Mahurin named St. Francois County Prosecuting Attorney

FARMINGTON — St. Francois County Courthouse employees finally got the answer they’ve been waiting more than two months for.

The question — who was going to be the next St. Francois County prosecuting attorney?

On Friday afternoon, Gov. Jay Nixon announced the appointment of Jerrod Mahurin of Desloge as the new St. Francois County prosecuting attorney. Sources had said the governor had narrowed his search between Mahurin and Ken Rohrer, the attorney recommended by the St. Francois County Democratic Committee.

The position became vacant after the elected prosecuting attorney, Wendy Wexler Horn, was appointed in late October by Nixon as the new Associate Circuit Judge, Division III. Horn replaced Judge Thomas Ray who retired at the end of September.

Mahurin, a Democrat, has served as a St. Francois County assistant prosecutor since 2008.

Mahurin graduated from North County in 1997. He earned his law degree from Oklahoma City University School of Law and his undergraduate degree from William Penn University. 

“Jerrod D. Mahurin is an experienced prosecutor in St. Francois County,” Gov. Nixon said. “I am pleased to appoint him to serve the people of St. Francois County as their new prosecuting attorney.”

Mahurin will serve the remainder of Horn’s term which ends in 2014.

Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Pat King, a Republican, had been running the office in the interim.

Mahurin was excited about the appointment and said it was a blessing.

He said he hopes to serve the county to the best of his ability. He believes with the staff and their work ethic already in place, they will be able to do that.

The prosecutor’s office has been short two attorneys since Horn became judge. In addition to losing Horn, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Joe Lanter left the office at about the same time to take a job in another state. A replacement for Lanter had to wait until a new prosecutor was named.

In addition to being two attorneys short, the office has also had to serve as special prosecuting attorney in some Washington County criminal cases. Conflicts of interest had arisen there due to the appointment of former public defender, Josh Hedgecorth, as the new Washington County prosecuting attorney.

Teresa Ressel is a reporter for the Daily Journal and can be reached at 573-431-2010, ext. 179 or at tressel@dailyjournalonline.com.