Chief Assistant Prosecutor Chris Anderson told commissioners the office closed October with 7,735 open cases (down 156 from the prior month), received 292 new cases, authorized charges in 92 matters and diverted or declined 169. The office also handled 786 notices of hearings and 23 mental-health commitment hearings.

Anderson said the office implemented a mobile-optimized victim-engagement portal (integrated with the case-management system) paid for with a two-year grant; the portal lets victims update contact information, complete questionnaires on injury, restitution and safety concerns, submit impact statements, and receive case-status notices. Anderson said 18 victims had begun using the portal in the first weeks after rollout.

Anderson also described a recent vulnerable-adult embezzlement conviction. Prosecutors said an individual, identified in the packet as Heather Bridal, was convicted of embezzling more than $70,000 from an elderly resident. Detective Heather Steffen led the investigation and a forensic accountant, Michelle Gallagher, provided pro-bono services through an attorney-general program to analyze voluminous financial records.

Anderson said the office will add an additional attorney (start date Dec. 1) as previously approved by the board and is continuing to recruit for remaining vacancies.

Provenance: prosecutor's report began at 01:29:55 and the embezzlement conviction narrative is in the same segment.

Ending: The prosecutor's office will monitor portal adoption and continue filling attorney positions; no further committee action was taken.