Palo Pinto County District Attorney
Kriste Burnett |
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Experienced.I have over 31 years of
experience prosecuting all levels of criminal offenses in Texas including capital murder, aggravated robbery, aggravated kidnapping, large drug cases, and violence and neglect crimes against children. Before coming to Palo Pinto County in 2009 I worked in Johnson and Somervell counties as the felony court chief for the 18th District Court managing a docket of hundreds of felony cases. In addition to elected work I also operated a private practice for 6 years. I am a graduate of Texas Tech Law School and have been a licensed attorney since 1992. |
Dedicated.I am dedicated to Palo Pinto County professionally and personally. In addition to serving as the District Attorney I have volunteered my time with the following groups: Zonta Club of Mineral Wells,
Leadership Mineral Wells, Envision Mineral Wells, the Republican Party of Palo Pinto County, 100 Women of Palo Pinto County, Palo Pinto County Republican Women, and Palo Pinto County Children’s Alliance Center. In response to a new state law, I was part of creating the Palo Pinto County Adult Sexual Assault Response Team. This multidisciplinary team helps to ensure that adult victims of sexual assault are assisted by professionals throughout the investigation and prosecution of their cases. |
Respected.I have been peer selected for leadership in the following state organizations:
-Texas District and County Attorneys Association (TDCAA), as regional director twice, secretary/treasurer and currently president-elect. I have also served on numerous committees for TDCAA, which is the largest professional association of prosecutors in the nation. I was invited by sheriffs across the state to be the prosecuting attorney member of the Cold Case Team of the Sheriff’s Association of Texas from 2009-2021, because of my experience in prosecuting murders and other violent crimes. |
CRIMES AGAINST CHILDREN
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Kriste Burnett's dedication to continuing education in the changing times we live in is imperative to the success of gathering evidence and prosecuting cases. Technology, human trafficking, internet based crimes, and specifically crimes against children all change rapidly. Ms. Burnett is dedicated to peer groups to prevent, stop, and prosecute.
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Ms. Burnett served on the Children’s Justice Act Task Force for Texas in multiple leadership positions
including grants committee chair, vice-chair and chair of the Task Force Organization. In Kriste's words, "The most vulnerable deserve the strongest prosecution and maximum sentences". |
THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S TEAM
I lead and support a team of respected staff. Our team knows the value of working in sync to tackle the number of cases the Palo Pinto County DA's office must handle. Since taking office in 2017 we have handled 3,316 cases. The team works together with a common goal- TOUGH ON CRIME! I could not be as successful without the partners in the office. Chree Henderson does a wonderful job of taking in cases for the office. She also organizes and assembles cases for Grand Jury and Court. Adina Morris serves as our office manager and Victim's Assistance Coordinator. She serves as an outstanding liaison to crime victims in our community. Tom Seaton is invaluable as our investigator, working with the various partner law enforcement agencies making sure we have all evidence necessary for a successful prosecution. Tom also helps us locate and coordinate witnesses and evidence for trials. Kason Mobley is our assistant District Attorney. Kason has approximately 18 years experience in trying criminal cases and has done a tremendous job helping dispose the backlog of cases during the 22 month statewide shut-down of open court during the pandemic.
PROSECUTING REPEAT
OFFENDERS
A good district attorney gets to the point. I was directed by Palo Pinto County citizens to be tough, but fair to those who show the willingness and ability to rehabilitate in society. See above quote for a great example of a former criminal who supports my re-election. Prosecute offenders. Rehabilitate if possible. .
PALO PINTO TOUGH
Pol. Ad. Paid for by Kriste Burnett Campaign