Hershey appointed to Glenwood DA’s office

Newly elected District Attorney Colleen Truden has announced the staff of attorneys who will accompany her into office on Jan. 11.She has chosen Vincent Felletter, a prosecutor from Mesa County, as her assistant district attorney. Former Aspen City Councilman Tony Hershey will be a deputy district attorney in the Glenwood Springs office.In Pitkin County, Deputy District Attorney Gail Nichols will retain her position, and Truden said she is still looking for a second attorney to join the local office.Nichols has been handling felony cases for current Assistant District Attorney Lawson Wills. After Wills lost the primary election for the district attorney seat in August, he took over county court cases so Nichols could learn how to prosecute felonies in Colorado. Wills plans to go into private practice.”It was a tremendous help for me,” she said. “From September through now, I’ve been able to go to him with questions.”Prosecuting in felony court takes more experience, she said, whereas county court is more time-consuming because of the sheer number of cases and the fact that many defendants don’t have lawyers.Truden has yet to decide who will handle county court cases in Pitkin County. She said she is looking for someone who will be a good fit for this county for the long term.”I don’t want to just fill positions for the sake of filling them – I want to have broad consideration for Pitkin County and your needs,” she said.Nichols said Truden has been willing to let her be involved in the selection of another attorney for the office.”I think it’s right to get someone who wants to come up here. There’s at least one person who has expressed interest, so now it’s a matter of juggling things and getting the right one,” Nichols said. “I am more than willing to carry the load knowing that we’re trying to get someone who fits in and wants to be here.”Hershey and Truden confirmed earlier this week that they’ve been talking about his joining the district attorney’s office, and Hershey said he was most interested in the Glenwood Springs position. Hershey will commute from Aspen, but will look into moving.”It’s more busy than [in Aspen] and a good place to learn and get experience again,” Hershey said. “I’m looking forward to the challenge.”Hershey will fill the position left open by Russell Wasley, who is moving to Rio Blanco County to serve as that office’s deputy district attorney.Felletter comes into the 9th Judicial District’s No. 2 position after spending 10 years in Grand Junction and Mesa County with the state’s 21st Judicial District’s office, Truden said. He has also spent about seven years before that as a military prosecutor.”I looked for someone who has a great deal of felony trial experience in the Colorado courts and, of course, dedication, commitment and prosecution of cases,” Truden said.Truden also announced on Thursday that Robin Steffen has been named the Glenwood Springs office administrator and Phil Walter is the district attorney’s new chief investigator. Gretchen Larson will remain the chief deputy district attorney, based out of Glenwood Springs.”I’m excited about the group that’s coming on board, and those who have chosen to remain and stick with their chosen profession,” Truden said.Naomi Havlen’s e-mail address is nhavlen@aspentimes.com