As Hamilton County’s Prosecuting Attorney, Melissa Powers currently oversees and manages an office of over 180 employees, which includes assistant prosecuting attorneys and support staff.
Press/Media |
Hamilton County Prosecutor Joseph T. Deters announces the Indictment of Michael Madaris
Today, Hamilton County Prosecutor Joseph T. Deters announced the indictment of Michael Madaris (DOB 11/25/05). Madaris was indicted for 6 counts of Murder (SF), 5 counts of Felonious Assault (F2), 3 counts of Kidnapping (F1), two counts of Abduction (F3), one count of Burglary (F2), one count of Tampering with Evidence (F3), one count of Carrying Concealed Weapons (F4), and one count of Obstruction of Official Business (M2). If convicted on all charges, Madaris faces [...]
Hamilton County Prosecutor Joseph T. Deters announces the Indictments of Charlie Dailey and Marquez Coleman
Today, Hamilton County Prosecutor Joseph T. Deters announced the indictments of Marquez Coleman (DOB 1/2/95) and Charlie Dailey (DOB 3/18/96) for the murder of Lorenzo Gray. Coleman and Dailey were each indicted with 1 count of Aggravated Murder (SF), 1 count of Murder (SF), one count of Felonious Assault (F2), and 2 counts of Having Weapons while Under Disability (F3). If convicted of all charges, they face the maximum possible sentence of life in prison. [...]
Hamilton County Prosecutor Joseph T. Deters responds to recent reports on the case of State of Ohio vs. Elwood Jones
Today, Hamilton County Prosecutor Joseph T. Deters responded to recent reporting on the case of death row inmate, Elwood Jones. In 1996, Elwood Jones was convicted of the aggravated murder of Rhoda Nathan at the Embassy Suites in Blue Ash. Jones was an employee at the Embassy Suites where Ms. Nathan was staying with friends to attend a bar mitzvah. When her friends left the hotel room for breakfast, Ms. Nathan took a shower. When [...]
Hamilton County Prosecutor Joseph T. Deters announces the Indictments of Shawn Carter for Rape and Murder
Today, Hamilton County Prosecutor Joseph T. Deters announced two separate indictments of Shawn Carter (DOB 5/6/74) for the murder of Andre Dockery and rape of A.W. On August 25, 2022, Carter was indicted for two counts of Murder (SF), two counts of Felonious Assault (F2), and Tampering with Evidence (F3). Today, Carter was indicted for four counts of Rape (F1), two counts of Kidnapping (F2), and one count of Having Weapons while Under Disability (F3). [...]
Hamilton County Prosecutor Joseph T. Deters announces the Indictment of Taahviya Chapman
Today, Hamilton County Prosecutor Joseph T. Deters announced the indictment of Taahviya Chapman (DOB 06/24/98) for one count of Aggravated Murder (SF), two counts of Murder (SF), two counts of Felonious Assault (F2), one count of Attempt Murder (Fl), and one count of Endangering Children (M1). If convicted on all charges, Chapman faces a maximum possible sentence of life in prison. On August 31, 2022, Chapman drove her car into Christopher Griffith and Jawon Khalid [...]
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Hamilton County Prosecutor's Office
The Hamilton County Prosecutor's Office represents people and government agencies in Hamilton County.
Prosecutor Melissa Powers and the Hamilton County Prosecutor’s Office are ready for the AFC Championship game this weekend!
WHO DEY!
ICYMI: Yesterday, Prosecutor Melissa Powers was officially sworn in as the new Hamilton County Prosecuting Attorney.
You can read more about Melissa's background here: hcpros.org/hamilton-county-prosecutors-office-announces-the-swearing-in-of-prosecutor-melissa-pow...
Today, Melissa Powers was sworn in as Hamilton County Prosecutor. Prosecutor Powers was sworn in by former Hamilton County Prosecutor and current Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, Joe Deters.
Melissa Powers began her legal career in 1991 working as an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney in Hamilton County’s Juvenile, Municipal, and Common Pleas Courts. She also practiced in the Appellate Division, arguing cases to the 1st District Court of Appeals. Most notably, in 1997, she obtained the confession from Joseph Paul Franklin, a white-supremacist serial killer. This confession finally solved the 17-year-old double murder of two boys in Cincinnati.
It was during her time as an Assistant Prosecutor where she learned the importance of providing justice and closure to victims of violent crime and their families.
In 1998, Melissa left the Prosecutor’s Office to begin her private litigation practice, where she specialized in criminal defense and civil litigation.
In 2006, Governor Bob Taft appointed Melissa to serve on the Hamilton County Municipal Court. During her 10 years in the Municipal Court bench, she established the first Hamilton County Veterans Treatment Court that incorporated an innovative team approach and community collaboration to address the unique needs of justice-involved combat veterans. This highly successful treatment court was a model used throughout the State of Ohio as it concentrated on reducing recidivism by focusing on alcohol/drug addiction and Post Traumatic Stress therapy.
In 2016, Melissa was elected to serve on the Hamilton County Juvenile Court. There, she presided over custody, dependency, and delinquency cases; including hundreds of violent felonies committed by juvenile offenders. Melissa was the Juvenile Court Administrative Judge from 2020-2022.
As Administrative Judge, Powers was responsible for managing 300 employees and a $35 million budget.
Melissa is a lifelong Cincinnatian, graduating from McAuley High School in 1979, the University of Cincinnati in 1984, and the University of Cincinnati College of Law in 1991. She has served on numerous boards, including Cincinnati Works, Operations Legal Help Ohio, Cincinnati Fire Foundation, and the Tri-State Veterans Community Alliance. Melissa is married and is the proud mother of four children and grandmother of four grandchildren.
Hamilton County Prosecutor Melissa Powers commented, “It is the honor of a lifetime to be sworn in as the next Hamilton County Prosecutor.
When it became clear that Joe Deters was leaving, I felt a sense duty and obligation to the city I love and the office I love. We, and our law enforcement partners, are the people standing in the gap – the people who hold the line. We are the difference between safe neighborhoods and lawlessness.
I look forward to serving the people of Hamilton County.”
Please join us in congratulating Melissa Powers, who was sworn in today by Justice Joseph T. Deters as the new Hamilton County Prosecuting Attorney!