[El Dorado County District Attorney's Office. Image, Joe Alexander]
The El Dorado County District Attorney’s Office welcomes Joe Alexander back as an Assistant District Attorney. Alexander was previously a Deputy District Attorney with El Dorado County from 2001 to 2016. In 2016, Alexander left the office to become the Assistant District Attorney, 2nd in command, at the Nevada County District Attorney’s Office, and was responsible for day-to-day operations for the office. Cliff Newell, Nevada County District Attorney, stated, “Joe is a top prosecutor and during his time in Nevada County he was a positive addition to the DA’s office. While we are sorry to see him leave, we congratulate Joe on his future opportunities in returning to El Dorado County.”
Alexander returned to the El Dorado County District Attorney’s Office because, “My family and I have lived in Cool for fifteen years and love it. When the opportunity to re-join El Dorado as part of the management team arose, the need to move to Nevada County for my job there was looming. I did not want to move from El Dorado County. Returning to the El Dorado District Attorney’s Office allows my family to stay in Cool, allows me to return to the office where I have deep roots and gives me the opportunity to serve the County I call home.”
Alexander learned a tremendous amount about running a District Attorney’s office while serving as the Assistant in Nevada County. “Cliff Newell and Randy Billingsley (Chief District Attorney Investigator) helped me transition from a line prosecutor to managing an office, dealing with personnel, budget and administrative issues. I am very grateful for the experience I gained while working in Nevada County.”
El Dorado District Attorney Vern Pierson stated, “Having Joe back is a huge gain for our office. Joe has always been an exceptional prosecutor, but now he has gained invaluable experience in Nevada County with regards to the management and running of the District Attorney’s Office. Just as there is more to being a prosecutor than getting a conviction, there is more to leading and managing a District Attorney’s Office than being a good prosecutor. Joe’s experience will serve him well as he transitions back into our office in his new role.”
Judge James Wagoner, formerly the Assistant District Attorney in El Dorado County who hired Alexander as a Deputy District Attorney in 2001, has had the opportunity to watch Alexander’s career from inside the office and from the bench. “El Dorado County is very fortunate to have Joe back at the District Attorney’s Office. I was on the interview panel when he was initially hired, and I knew then that he was an outstanding attorney and would be a valuable asset to the office. I am happy that he is bringing his expertise, knowledge and experience back to work for the citizens of El Dorado County. He has outstanding leadership skills and will be an excellent Assistant District Attorney.”
Lisette Suder, who has been a deputy district attorney for 22 years and is the lead attorney in charge of the Child and Adult Sexual Assault Unit for El Dorado County, said, “We are so grateful to have Joe back in the office. When dealing with complex and important cases, it is vital to have experienced colleagues available to discuss legal issues. Joe is an accomplished prosecutor and I value his insight.”
During his time in El Dorado County, Alexander held a variety of different assignments, including the vertical prosecution of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, Trial Team Lead and Special Victim’s Unit Lead. Notable cases prosecuted by Alexander include the death penalty phase retrial of James Leslie Karis for a 1981 kidnapping of two young women and the murder of Peggy Pennington, the prosecution and conviction of John Luebbers for the murder of Schnell School Principal Sam Lacara, the conviction of David Zanon for the murder of CHP Officer Scott Russell, and the conviction of Colleen Harris, aka the
“Black Widow,” who killed her husband Bob Harris 30 years after being acquitted of killing her former husband, Jim Batten.
Alexander’s current responsibilities include being the Lead of the Cold Case Task Force, supervising the Core Prosecution Trial Team as well as the newly created Family Protection Unit, which prosecutes domestic violence, child and elder abuse cases.
Alexander continues to live in Cool with his wife Kristen and their two children.
