Personnel changes in DA’s office questioned
In the course of a few days, the Fayette County district attorney’s office saw the hiring of five new assistant prosecutors and the dismissal of six others, a series of events that has not settled well with at least one of those attorneys who was not retained under the new administration.
Attorney Doug Sepic said he was excused from the office Monday, with no warning, as were fellow former prosecutors Michelle Kelley and Mark Brooks.
Former deputy prosecutors Meghann Mikluscak, Bernard C. John and Phyllis Jin were also terminated, prior to Bower’s first official day in office.
Sepic said he received notice of his termination by letter on Monday.
“I am truly humbled to have served the people of Fayette County as an assistant DA for over 16 years and prosecute thousands of criminals,” said Sepic.
“It’s a real disservice to the public, however, that District Attorney (Rich) Bower seems more concerned with his newfound political stardom and paying back his political allies with jobs than he is with addressing the real problems that plague criminal prosecution in Fayette County,” he went on to say.
Sepic criticized Bower for not extending “common courtesy” to give advance notice to those who were cut, pointing out that important deadlines regarding healthcare coverage recently passed, making the task of obtaining coverage for his family more complicated.
He also questioned the logic of firing three senior members of the office with extensive trial experience and taking on staff with considerably less time in front of juries.
Bower said he did not feel it would be appropriate to talk about why he chose not to continue the employment of some of the former prosecutors, adding that it’s a personnel matter.
Referring to himself, Kelley and Brooks, Sepic said Bower had terminated three dedicated prosecutors, “who each have more experience prosecuting criminals than what he does.”
Among the three of them, Sepic estimated he, Brooks and Kelley had tried over 1,000 cases before juries in their tenure.
“Either the firings were politically motivated, or they were motivated by Mr. Bower’s egotistical need to feel like the smartest guy in the office,” Sepic said. “Regardless, the expense of Mr. Bower’s power trip will be paid by the innocent crime victims and the people of Fayette County.”
Kelley, who was a prosecutor for 13 years, said her work isn’t over. “Given my extensive trial experience, I look forward to a very successful defense practice.”
Sepic said he is also eager to take on criminal defense work.
Brooks, who spent 22 years in the DA’s office, declined to comment. He and Sepic are partners at Watson, Mundorff, Brooks and Sepic.
Mikluscak and John each declined to comment on the personnel changes as well. Jin could not be reached for comment.