Carlos Garcia was sworn in as your District Attorney on January 1, 2013. Carlos has been an attorney since 1995, and has been a prosecutor since 1997. Carlos has worked as a felony prosecutor for over 20 years- 15 and 1/2 of those years as an Asst. District Attorney under two elected District Attorneys in two jurisdictions and has also worked with three elected County Attorneys. For additional information on your District Attorney, please go to his individual page on this website.

Lee Persohn has been a felony prosecutor for over 20 years. He has worked in two different jurisdictions under five different District Attorneys. During his time as a prosecutor, he has handled a wide variety of cases including murders, sexual assaults, domestic violence, robberies, child abuse cases, asset forfeiture, thefts, burglaries and DWIs. Lee has experience from intake through appeal.

Marisol began her legal career in 2008 and has experience in civil, criminal and appellate law and has practiced in both State and Federal courts. Marisol's experience as a prosecutor includes work as an Assistant District Attorney under a prior administration. Marisol's caseload includes domestic violence and child abuse cases. Marisol works closely with the Children's Advocacy Center of the Coastal Bend's Multidisciplinary Team ​meeting.

Roman has been licensed to practice law since 1999 and has worked as both Assistant County Attorney and Assistant District Attorney for Jim Wells County. He also has been a Regional Attorney for the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. Roman is currently the Juvenile Prosecutor for Jim Wells County, and also handles Protective Orders for victims of family violence.

Matthew began his service as a felony prosecutor in August of 2019, however, before his “official” appointment, Matt had interned at the Jim Wells County Attorney’s Office and the 79th Judicial District Attorney’s Office while attending law school. In addition to the experience he gained through the prosecutorial internships, Matt also gained valuable experience working at a civil law firm before being licensed. Matt’s strong work ethic and research skills assist him with the variety of cases he is assigned.

Margarito has been with the District Attorney's Office since 2011, and has nearly 20 years of law enforcement experience. Margarito's background as a DARE instructor, TCLEOSE instructor, Crime Stoppers officer, along with many other related programs made him the right choice to coordinate the community outreach programs for the District Attorney's Office. Maggie holds a Master Peace Officer license and serves as a supervisor for the investigators and crime victim services divisions.

Arturo started his law enforcement career in 1994. Arturo has worked for the Brooks County Sheriff's Department, Premont Police Department, Falfurrias Police Department, and Brooks County Code & Traffic Enforcement. Arturo holds a Master Peace Officer license and is a Gang Resistance Education and Training Instructor. Arturo had also served the Rio Grande Valley Empowerment Zone Corp. as Project Advocate where he provided crime victim services.

David started his law enforcement career in 1994. David has worked for the Duval County Sheriff’s Office, Alice Police Department and Port of Corpus Christi Police Department. David holds a Master Peace Officer License. During his law enforcement tenure, David held the positions of patrol/traffic shift supervisor. He was later promoted to the rank of Lieutenant where he supervised the narcotics unit, gang unit, and the criminal investigations division. David certifications include, TCOLE instructor, accident reconstruction, interview/interrogation, SWAT certified, homicide investigator, field training officer, and terrorism/homeland security.

Vivian started working for the 79th Judicial District Attorney's Office in 2002 and has worked under three different administrations. Vivian has worked in both the Jim Wells and Brooks County District Attorney's Offices. As the office administrator, Vivian handles the daily operations of the office including processing office purchase orders, managing personnel issues, and coordinates the assignments of the legal support staff members. Vivian also handles juvenile detention cases, and is the project director for our BPU and victim assistance grants.

Viola has worked under two different District Attorney's since 2009 and has worked in the Brooks County Tax Office. Viola has assisted in preparing indictments for grand jury, assisting with the preparation of criminal cases for trial and preparing motions to revoke probation.

Sylvia has worked in the asset forfeiture divisions of three different District Attorneys and has over 10 years of experience. Sylvia started in the Asset Forfeiture Department of the 105th Judicial District Attorney's Office in 2000 and remained with the Asset Forfeiture Division of the Kleberg & Kenedy Counties District Attorney's Office until she accepted her current position.

Maria Elena has worked in the judicial system as a deputy clerk with the Jim Wells County District Clerk's Office and now with the District Attorney's Office. Maria Elena's primary duties includes the criminal case in-take from all of the law enforcement agencies filing cases with the DA's office.

Valerie started working in the judicial system as a Deputy Clerk with the Jim Wells County Clerk's Office and now with the District Attorney's Office. Valerie's primary duties includes preparing indictments for grand jury, assisting with the preparation of criminal cases for trial, preparing motions to revoke probation and community outreach. Valerie is currently assigned to crimes against children and domestic violence cases. Valerie also monitors all social media platforms used by the DA's office and continues to assist in improving those outlets.

Margo started working in the judicial system as a Chief Court Clerk with the Justice of the Peace Office and now with the District Attorney’s Office. Margo’s primary duties include preparing indictments for grand jury, assisting with the preparation of criminal cases for trial, preparing motions to revoke probation and community outreach

Sharis comes to the District Attorney’s Office with a strong academic background in criminal Justice and experience working in the healthcare field. Sharis’ strong productivity and efficiency level has assisted in the improvements made in the Brooks County Office. Sharis’ primary duties include case intake, assisting with preparing cases files for grand jury, pre-trial and trials, assisting with Brooks County requisition/PO process, and community outreach.

Carla came to the District Attorney’s Office after working in the public sector in the commercial retail and healthcare areas. Carla’s background in outreach and client services along with her strong office skills has help build an office that continues to improve in serving the public with the caseload and with outreach. Carla’s primary duties include case intake, clerical/reception duties, preparing case files, closing completed matters and community outreach.

Aaron has worked in the judicial system as a deputy clerk with the Jim Wells County District Clerk’s Office. Aaron's primary duties include assisting the BPU with the preparation of criminal cases for trial, preparing discovery packets, assisting the BPU investigator with coordinating training, and keeping track of the measures reported on the grant.

Richard Byington has been an attorney in private practice for over 22 years. His practice included criminal defense, family law and child protective services cases. Richard is currently in the Border Prosecution Unit (BPU) and is the embedded attorney with DPS. His duties include serving as a resource for DPS throughout the district.

Alfonzo started his legal career as a solo practitioner in 2018; his case load included both felony and misdemeanor criminal cases, family law, and civil matters. Before being licensed, Alfonzo had gained experience working in the legal field including a Jim Wells County Attorney’s Office internship. After a year of private practice, Alfonzo joined the District Attorney’s office as a prosecutor in the Border Prosecution Unit where, in addition to working up his assigned caseload, he has helped develop strategies for addressing human trafficking issues.

Diana Mendoza is an Assistant District Attorney for Operation Lone Star in Jim Wells and Brooks counties. She is a graduate of TSU Thurgood Marshall School of Law and has been licensed since 2018. She is a former Harris County Assistant District Attorney and practiced privately for two years prior to joining the Jim Wells District Attorney’s office. She has experience with criminal, immigration, and civil litigation.

Jason has been with the District Attorney's Office since 2019. He started in law enforcement with the Premont Police Department and Jim Wells County Sheriff's Office but spent most of his career with the Alice Police Department. While at the Alice Police Department, Jason served as a patrol officer, investigator, FBI Task Force officer, and Criminal Investigations Division Lieutenant. Jason is a Master Peace Officer, TCOLE Instructor, and the local coordinator for BPU training. He is also an Adjunct Instructor at Coastal Bend College. Jason has a Master's degree in Criminal Justice Leadership & Management from Sam Houston State University and a Ph.D. in Industrial-Organizational Psychology from Grand Canyon University.

Robert began his law enforcement career in 1981 when he joined the United States Air Force as a Law Enforcement Specialist. He is a Persian Gulf War Veteran and life long resident of Jim Wells county. Robert currently holds a Master Peace Officer License, is a TCOLE instructor, Mental Health Peace Officer, Mental Health Peace Officer Instructor, and Special Investigator. Robert has also served as the President of the South Texas Justice of the Peace and Constable’s Association and received recognition for being the first Constable in the State of Texas to be involved with the National Center For Missing and Exploited Children and their Missing Kids Readiness Program.

Helna worked as a Project Advocate for the Rio Grande Valley Empowerment Zone Corp. where she provided crime victim services throughout Jim Wells, Brooks, Kleberg, and Duval Counties. Helna also served the community while working with the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Office in Brooks County. In October of 2019, Helna was brought in to the Crime Victim’s Services Division to assist with providing additional crime victims’ services through a newly awarded grant from the Texas Governor’s Office.

In November of 2019, Lisa was brought in through a newly awarded grant from the Texas Governor’s Office; she came to the District Attorney’s Office with a strong accounting and program management background. Lisa has helped develop a crime victims’ service process that tracks the many state and federal measures required by the grant funding sources and assisted the coordinators in providing services to crime victims.

Marilyn’s primary duties include assisting the Victim Advocates.