Carson City DA-elect Woodbury names Kristin Luis as Assistant District Attorney

UPDATE: Carson City District Attorney-Elect Jason Woodbury announced Wednesday he will appoint Kristin Luis to be Assistant District Attorney. She will replace Mark Krueger who is now serving as assistant district attorney under Neil Rombardo.

“Kristin embodies every principle I want the D.A.’s office to reflect,” said Woodbury. “She’s honest. Her judgment is sensible and consistent. And she’s the hardest working person I’ve ever known.”

Luis presently serves as the Juvenile Court Special Master and Discovery Commissioner for the First Judicial District Court, a position to which she was appointed in 2010. She is a graduate of the University of Nevada and Gonzaga University, School of Law.

“I’ve enjoyed every moment of the last four years, largely due to the dedication of the people I work with,” said Luis. “It’s difficult to leave, but I’m proud of our achievements and know that I am leaving the Juvenile Court in the best hands possible. I appreciate the exciting opportunity to serve our community as Assistant District Attorney,” said Luis.

Luis was a deputy district attorney with the Carson City District Attorney's Office from 2000 to 2010. Prior to that, she worked with Scott Freeman, now a District Judge, and David Houston, a prominent criminal defense attorney in Reno.

Woodbury added, “I worked with Kristin from 2000 to 2003, and everybody knew then she was someone very special. There’s no one I’d rather have helping to lead the District Attorney’s office.”

Luis will begin her new assignment in January, 2015.

Contacted later, Krueger, who lost the race in a close election by less than 1,000 votes, said in a prepared statement that he will leave having enjoyed working as Carson City’s Assistant District Attorney.

"I am proud to have led and taught a team of excellent prosecutors and staff," said Krueger, who was assistant DA for more than two years.

In that time he handled the prosecution of 13 murderers, including the jury conviction of Leonardo Cardoza, who drove his car into a woman, Desiree Bragg, at her mother's home in January 2013.

Krueger leaves with many successes as assistant DA. He lead the prosecution of numerous sex offenders and persons who committed abuse upon children, including the jury convictions of James Johnson and David Stone, who both repeatedly sexually abused children, as well as Justin Carrigan, who left a toddler with permanent brain damage.

He prosecuted numerous cases of people who preyed on the elderly, including Jordan Burkhart and Robert Hernandez, who robbed a 100-year-old veteran on Memorial Day weekend. He charged and handled the extradition of Patrick Williams from Hawaii for possession and trading of child pornography.

He prosecuted David Lane, who assaulted employees at the Olive Garden with a deadly weapon. He prosecuted two teachers who abused their position of authority by having sexual relations with students. He prosecuted numerous embezzlers, including Laura Wissert, who embezzled from the Sheriff’s Office as an employee.

He expanded programs and worked with Victim Witness Services to help victims and citizens of the community. He created the DAWG program to help victims and witnesses face the rigors of testimony in court by using a therapy dog.

"I am proud of the successes and achievements I have attained and shared with my team at the Carson City District Attorney’s Office,” said Krueger.