Your Kalamazoo DefenderS

We are dedicated and passionate public servants, fervent truth tellers, and creative problem solvers, bringing awareness to intentionally overlooked issues and finding integrated solutions to complex problems. We believe every member of our community deserves to be treated with dignity and respect, and we challenge systems that do not offer that respect to everyone.

Leadership Staff

Brittany Chambers

Human Resources Manager

Jasmine Cooley

Lead Client Navigator

Samantha Davidson

Legal Staff Administrator

SaConna Johnson

Director of Client Advocacy

Janet Karpus

Special Projects Manager

Susan Luthy

Chief Investigator

Christin Mehrins-Carlin

Assistant Public Defender / Felony Supervisor

Jennifer Peck

Office Manager

Ragan Savara

Chief of Finance and Operations

Mary Anne Simmering

Assistant Public Defender / Misdemeanor Supervisor

Rachel Suhrbier

Chief Defender

Matthew Wait

Executive Director

Melody Woods

Director of Collaborative Engagement

Taylor Young

Lead Mitigation Specialist

Attorneys

Mark Beougher

Assistant Public Defender

Angelica Caolie

Assistant Public Defender

Ellen Christie

Assistant Public Defender

Peter D’Angelo

Assistant Public Defender

Torrence Davenport

Assistant Public Defender / LEO Research Attorney

Lucy DeHaan

Assistant Public Defender

Samuel Ellis

Assistant Public Defender

Jesse Fernandez

Assistant Public Defender

Alanna Fisher

Assistant Public Defender

Valerie Foster

Assistant Public Defender

Aiyana Godsil

Assistant Public Defender

Scott Graham

Assistant Public Defender

Daniel Horwitz

Assistant Public Defender

Donna Innes

Assistant Public Defender / Juvenile Specialist

Casey Johnson

Assistant Public Defender

Maggie Jones

Assistant Public Defender

Alan Koenig

Assistant Public Defender

Alicia Krajacic

Assistant Public Defender

Christopher Letcher

Assistant Public Defender

Devon Maas

Assistant Public Defender

Christin Mehrins-Carlin

Assistant Public Defender / Felony Supervisor

Jaime Nelson

Assistant Public Defender

Brette Rappleye

Assistant Public Defender

Jeremiah Reece

Research Attorney

Marcus Richard

Assistant Public Defender

Rebecca Richman

Assistant Public Defender

Michael Rizzuto

Assistant Public Defender

Mary Anne Simmering

Assistant Public Defender / Misdemeanor Supervisor

Ronald Slaven

Assistant Public Defender

Mary Spiegel

Assistant Public Defender

Eric Staats

Assistant Public Defender

Rebecca Stevens

Assistant Public Defender

Rachel Suhrbier

Chief Defender

Rachel Vinales

Assistant Public Defender / Motions & Appeals Specialist

Ryan Wallace

Assistant Public Defender

Kristina Williams

Assistant Public Defender

Michael Wolfrum

Assistant Public Defender

Mitigation & Investigation

Kennedy Allyn

Mitigation Specialist

Susan Luthy

Chief Investigator

William McCurdy

Investigator

Ashley Nabors

Senior Mitigation Specialist

Bridget Smith

Investigator

Gonzalo Vinales

Investigator

Taylor Young

Lead Mitigation Specialist

Client Navigators

Jasmine Cooley

Lead Client Navigator

Elizabeth Cozat

Client Navigator

DaQuon Harp

Client Navigator

Support Staff

Kristine Alleshouse

Paralegal

Jennie Cook

HR Admin Assistant

Jada Earl

Senior Receptionist

Kenyatta Herrion

Village Program Coordinator

Michelle Koh

Deputy Legal Administrator

Kelsea Lange

Case Specialist

Grace Monroe

Research Specialist

Andrew Rios

IT Support Specialist

Angela Rokicak

Paralegal

Jad Samman

Paralegal

Sravani Vikkurthi

IT Support Specialist

Kalee Webb

Receptionist