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 and Clermont County Prosecutor Mark Tekulve call on the community to oppose parole for David Carroll
Today, Hamilton County Prosecutor Joseph T. Deters and Clermont County Prosecutor Mark J. Tekulve called on the community to contact the Ohio Parole Board to oppose the release of David Carroll. In 2007, Liz and David Carroll were convicted for the August 2006 murder of their 3- year-old foster son, Marcus Fiesel. On August 4, 2006, prior to leaving town for a family reunion, the Carrolls bound and wrapped Marcus and locked him in a [...]
Hamilton County Prosecutor Joseph T. Deters comments on the passage of Hjr2/Sjr5
“We are one step closer to keeping Ohio a safe place to raise our families.” Today, the Ohio General Assembly passed joint resolutions to place on the November ballot a constitutional amendment that would require judges to consider public safety when setting monetary bail. In January, the Ohio Supreme Court ruled in DuBose v. McGuffey that judges cannot consider public safety when setting monetary bail amounts. As a result of the General Assembly’s passage [...]
Hamilton County Prosecutor Joseph T. Deters announces the Indictment of Benjamin Wood
Today, Hamilton County Prosecutor Joseph T. Deters announced the indictment of Benjamin Wood (DOB 01/07/92). Wood was indicted for two counts of Inducing Panic (F4). If convicted on all charges, Wood faces the maximum possible sentence of 18 months in prison. On May 17, 2022, the Cincinnati Police Department was contacted by officials at the Kenton County Sheriff’s Office regarding concerning statements about Proctor & Gamble by Wood – including a statement that he was [...]
Hamilton County Prosecutor Joseph T. Deters announces Indictment in 2013 Cold Case Murder
Today, Hamilton County Prosecutor Joseph T. Deters announced the indictment of Aleksey Koloskov (DOB 10/08/86). Koloskov was indicted for two counts of Murder (SF), Felonious Assault (F2), and Tampering with Evidence (F3). If convicted on all charges, Koloskov faces the maximum possible sentence of life in prison. In 2013, a maintenance crew worker informed police that he saw what he thought was a body near a wood line alongside I-75 in Kenton County, Kentucky. Due [...]
Hamilton County Prosecutor Joseph T. Deters announces Indictment n Animal Cruelty Case
Today, Hamilton County Prosecutor Joseph T. Deters announced the indictment of Adam Kordes for one count of Cruel Treatment against Companion Animals (F5). Kordes was previously indicted for one count of Having Weapons Under Disability (F3) relating to this investigation. If convicted on all charges, Kordes faces the maximum possible sentence of 4 years in prison. On February 2, 2022, Cincinnati Animal Care officers received a tip from a veterinarian in Florida that a Capuchin [...]
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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!