JEFFERSON CITY – Centralia native Jacob Shellabarger has been named Audrain County Prosecuting Attorney – a great way to celebrate his 28th birthday.
Gov. Jay Nixon made the announcement late Tuesday afternoon, effective today. Shellabarger, who had served as assistant prosecutor since September 2007, will succeed Jason Lamb, who recently resigned to become the executive director of the Missouri Office of Prosecution Services.
While the young Democrat may not be the youngest attorney to serve as prosecutor in the state of Missouri – federal district judge Stephen Limbaugh was 26 when he became a PA – recent history regarding young prosecutors suggests he is the youngest, at age 27, to be appointed in Audrain County. Lamb held the title for the youngest known elected PA in Audrain, at age 28.
Age aside, Shellabarger still won the governor's approval, and from all of his peers as well.
"County prosecutors are a vital part of the state's criminal justice system, and I am confident that Jacob Shellabarger will uphold the trust of the people of Audrain County as their prosecutor," Nixon said in his release Tuesday. Lamb echoed those sentiments, further noting Shellabarger's experience.
"I am certainly very proud of Jacob, he's done a great job as an assistant prosecutor. He's very familiar with the judicial system in Audrain, and with the office and cases here," Lamb said. "I wish him the best of luck, and hope that the people give him the same warm reception they've given me over the years."
The Hon. Circuit Judge Keith Sutherland called Shellabarger the "obvious choice," lauding his experience, and ability to "row right in" and take over. He too offered his congratulations.
Raised on a farm in the northwest corner of Audrain County, Shellabarger graduated from Centralia High School in 2000, and went on to obtain his law degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia – where he also received a bachelor's degree in agricultural journalism, with a minor in agricultural economics.
Having prosecuted both felony and misdemeanor cases as an assistant PA, Shellabarger said he's particularly proud of the work he's done with DWI (driving while intoxicated) cases, and credits his success to the commitment of local and state law enforcement officials in their investigations.
His short-term goals are to continue to expand on the "good relationship" he has with law enforcement. While his long-term goals focus on the expansion of the Audrain County Drug Court program, and the possibility of adding more community-based programs.
"I'm proud of what Jason has done with the Drug Court program, and would like to make it so it's expandable to other offenses," Shellabarger said.
Though "honored to have been appointed to serve," Shellabarger said he really wasn't surprised by the announcement. He believes his tutelage with Lamb, his connection with the community, and his staff, make him "uniquely qualified."
He offered a personal "thanks" to Lamb for being an "excellent prosecutor and mentor," and to his staff for "working exceptionally hard."
"I'm excited about the opportunity to continue the service that we have in the county, and the chance to help the citizens of Audrain have the best criminal justice system we can," he said.
Shellabarger is married to the former Dawn Lowry of Mexico. The couple has one son, Eric, who is 9 months old. When he isn't working, he enjoys water skiing, sailing, and his membership and involvement with the Mexico Noon Lions Club, and Audrain County 4-H.
Shellabarger will serve as the appointed Audrain County Prosecutor until the November 2010 general election.
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JEFFERSON CITY – Centralia native Jacob Shellabarger has been named Audrain County Prosecuting Attorney – a great way to celebrate his 28th birthday.
Gov. Jay Nixon made the announcement late Tuesday afternoon, effective today. Shellabarger, who had served as assistant prosecutor since September 2007, will succeed Jason Lamb, who recently resigned to become the executive director of the Missouri Office of Prosecution Services.
While the young Democrat may not be the youngest attorney to serve as prosecutor in the state of Missouri – federal district judge Stephen Limbaugh was 26 when he became a PA – recent history regarding young prosecutors suggests he is the youngest, at age 27, to be appointed in Audrain County. Lamb held the title for the youngest known elected PA in Audrain, at age 28.
Age aside, Shellabarger still won the governor's approval, and from all of his peers as well.
"County prosecutors are a vital part of the state's criminal justice system, and I am confident that Jacob Shellabarger will uphold the trust of the people of Audrain County as their prosecutor," Nixon said in his release Tuesday. Lamb echoed those sentiments, further noting Shellabarger's experience.
"I am certainly very proud of Jacob, he's done a great job as an assistant prosecutor. He's very familiar with the judicial system in Audrain, and with the office and cases here," Lamb said. "I wish him the best of luck, and hope that the people give him the same warm reception they've given me over the years."
The Hon. Circuit Judge Keith Sutherland called Shellabarger the "obvious choice," lauding his experience, and ability to "row right in" and take over. He too offered his congratulations.
Raised on a farm in the northwest corner of Audrain County, Shellabarger graduated from Centralia High School in 2000, and went on to obtain his law degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia – where he also received a bachelor's degree in agricultural journalism, with a minor in agricultural economics.
Having prosecuted both felony and misdemeanor cases as an assistant PA, Shellabarger said he's particularly proud of the work he's done with DWI (driving while intoxicated) cases, and credits his success to the commitment of local and state law enforcement officials in their investigations.
His short-term goals are to continue to expand on the "good relationship" he has with law enforcement. While his long-term goals focus on the expansion of the Audrain County Drug Court program, and the possibility of adding more community-based programs.
"I'm proud of what Jason has done with the Drug Court program, and would like to make it so it's expandable to other offenses," Shellabarger said.
Though "honored to have been appointed to serve," Shellabarger said he really wasn't surprised by the announcement. He believes his tutelage with Lamb, his connection with the community, and his staff, make him "uniquely qualified."
He offered a personal "thanks" to Lamb for being an "excellent prosecutor and mentor," and to his staff for "working exceptionally hard."
"I'm excited about the opportunity to continue the service that we have in the county, and the chance to help the citizens of Audrain have the best criminal justice system we can," he said.
Shellabarger is married to the former Dawn Lowry of Mexico. The couple has one son, Eric, who is 9 months old. When he isn't working, he enjoys water skiing, sailing, and his membership and involvement with the Mexico Noon Lions Club, and Audrain County 4-H.
Shellabarger will serve as the appointed Audrain County Prosecutor until the November 2010 general election.
