Represented the State and the Iowa Department of Heath and Human Services in Child In Need of Assistance and Termination of Parental Rights actions.Prosecuted adult and juvenile criminal cases on behalf of the State, including Child Endangerment, Criminal Mischief, Theft, Sex Offender Registry violations and truancy violations.Served as lead attorney for 49 jury trials, 13 indictable-level bench trials and hundreds of magistrate-level bench trials.Helped train and advise new attorneys regarding prosecution techniques and skills, local rules and procedures, case preparation, office policies and practices, and specific areas of criminal law.Represented and advised Muscatine County Community Services in guardianship and conservatorship cases.Participated in legal proceedings such as suppression hearings, probation revocations, protective order modifications, depositions, simple misdemeanor appeals, and mental health and substance abuse commitments.Coordinated city efforts to collect tobacco violation penalties from Muscatine retailers.Assisted with revisions to the City’s criminal code, including the removal of jail penalties for simple misdemeanors and corrections to traffic camera regulations.Advised and trained law enforcement officers regarding criminal law and procedure.Negotiated plea agreements with defense attorneys and pro se defendants.Utilized software such as ProLaw, Lexis Advance, Microsoft Office and ShieldWare.

Photographed news, sports, and feature stories for print and online newspapers.Produced and uploaded online photo galleries.

Drafted rulings for criminal and civil trials, appeals from lower courts, summary judgments, and motions to suppress and dismiss.Conducted legal and other research for judges.Managed orders for 15-20 motions each day.Trained new law clerks in district procedures, policies and software use.Served as a liaison to the Clerk of Court, Court Administration, attorneys and the public.Utilized Westlaw Next software.

Prosecuted simple misdemeanor crimes including theft, domestic abuse assault, trespassing, criminal mischief, possession of drug paraphernalia, unlawful use of a driver’s license, disorderly conduct, public intoxication and various traffic offenses.Participated in pretrial conferences, sentencing hearings and no-contact order hearings.Negotiated plea agreements with defense attorneys and pro se defendants.Prepared brief and conducted direct examination for an evidence-suppression hearing.Prepared reply briefs for simple misdemeanor convictions on appeal.

Drafted the ruling for a misdemeanor trespass case on appeal from the magistrate, a summary judgment ruling in an interpleader case, and a summary judgment ruling in a civil case involving claims of fraud and slander.Researched case law related to changes in the Iowa Code of Judicial Conduct, the basis for a second-degree burglary charge and rules relating to granting a motion for leave to amend a complaint.Proofread draft rulings, orders, decrees and other court documents for accuracy, content, grammar and style.Performed courtroom attendant duties during court service days, including checking in attorneys and parties, making follow-up phone calls to attorneys, and summarizing upcoming cases for judges.Observed criminal and civil trials, motion hearings, pretrial conferences, drug court hearings, sentencing and restitution hearings, plea-agreement hearings, juvenile court proceedings and probation-revocation hearings.

Worked as the chief photographer for a 15,000-circulation daily newspaper until corporate-mandated staff cuts in July 2009, then became a staff photographer.Supervised and scheduled a staff of two full-time photographers and occasional freelancers.Gained experience producing and editing video stories for the paper's online edition.Selected to participate in the 2009 Gannett Mentoring Program.

Worked as a features and education reporter for a 21,000-circulation daily newspaper.Produced 5-8 stories per week, including daily deadline stories and in-depth pieces.Awarded first place in the education reporting category for daily papers under 26,000 circulation in the South Carolina Press Association's 2006 news excellence competition.Served on a newsroom subcommittee to analyze and suggest changes to the content and design of the newspaper’s business section.

Worked as a reporter and photographer for a 5,500-circulation tri-weekly newspaper, covering breaking news, education, government, business and the local Army base.Covered several court proceedings, including capital murder trials and a court-martial.Edited other reporters' stories for content, accuracy, grammar, length and style.

Worked as a photojournalist for a 26,000-circulation daily newspaper.Helped create a new, computer-based photo request system.Selected by the publisher to serve on a committee to create a new, alternative publication aimed at attracting younger readers.

Worked as a photojournalist for a 60,000-circulation daily newspaper.

Helped prepare annual financial statement audits and tax returns for local government entities, partnerships, S-corporations and individuals.Served on an extended assignment in Canada with the firm’s Special Services Division, helping a large automotive supplier reconcile accounts payable.Received training in auditing, tax preparation, staff supervision and client relations.Earned Certified Public Accountant designation in 1998.