Shelby County DA appoints new executive prosecutors amid turnover

The Shelby County District Attorney's Office has appointed two new executive deputy DAs, backfilling two vacancies that recently popped up.

Lessie Rainey, appointed as deputy DA, will be District Attorney Steve Mulroy's second-in-command, and Monica Timmerman, appointed as associate deputy DA, will be his third.

The duo replaces Paul Hagerman and Chris Lareau, respectively. Hagerman, last week, was appointed as one of Shelby County's new criminal court judges. Lareau, according to the DA's office in a press release, left the office at an unspecified time "to pursue other endeavors."

"Lessie and Monica are both experienced prosecutors who have demonstrated strong leadership and a commitment to serving the people of Shelby County," Mulroy said in the press

release. "They bring different experiences and perspectives to these roles, and I'm confident they will help lead this office forward while supporting the important work our prosecutors do every day."

Both Rainey and Timmerman were raised in Memphis.

Rainey has been with the DA's office since 2009. She earned her undergraduate degree from Washington and Lee University before earning her law degree from the University of Tennessee College of Law, the DA's office said.

She spent seven years with the special victims unit and was the domestic violence unit's chief prosecutor.

"I am excited to serve the citizens of Shelby County in this new capacity, and I look forward to the new challenges and responsibilities in my role as deputy district attorney," Rainey said in the statement.

Timmerman earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Memphis and earned her law degree from the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law. She has practiced criminal law since 2013 and been with the DA's office since 2022.

Shortly after joining the office, she was arrested and charged with driving under the influence. She pleaded guilty and was briefly suspended from practicing law until finishing a treatment program for addiction.

"At the time of the incident, DA Mulroy acknowledged its seriousness and recused our office to ensure the matter was handled independently," the DA's office said in a statement about Timmerman's past charge. "Ms. Timmerman accepted responsibility and sought treatment. In the years since, she has proven herself to be a knowledgeable and committed prosecutor, handling among the highest number of trials in the office, serving in leadership roles and earning the respect of judges and fellow prosecutors. Her promotion reflects the record she has built since that time."

Since being reinstated in fall 2023, Timmerman has tried more than 25 jury trials, the DA's office said, and she most recently served as chief prosecutor for criminal court division VII.

Lucas Finton covers crime, policing, jails, the courts and criminal justice policy for The Commercial Appeal. He can be reached by phone or email: [phone] and [e-mail], and followed on X @LucasFinton.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Shelby County DA appoints new executive prosecutors amid turnover