Kim Morava
Adam Panter, who was previously appointed by Gov. Kevin Stitt to serve as interim District Attorney for the remainder of Allan Grubb’s term in 2022, officially sworn in as district attorney of Pottawatomie and Lincoln Counties for the next four years. .
Panter said he was informed by Gov. Stitt is also appointed to fill the four-year term of David Hammer, who died a few days after the June 2022 election. Hammer would have taken office this month; Panter was officially sworn in during the Jan. 3 ceremony.
“I am very happy and humbled by the opportunity to seek justice on behalf of the citizens of this province. I am honored to call David Hammer my friend and I will do my best to live up to his legacy by establishing this best DA office in the State,” Panter said. “Moving forward, my focus will not be on the mistakes of the previous administration, but on the safety of our community.”
Panter said he and his team are currently reviewing homicide cases as well as previously dismissed cases, but are also conducting routine case reviews.
“My goal is to ensure that violent criminals and recidivists are given full credit for their actions, that victims are guaranteed a powerful voice for them, and that positive and productive relationships are re-established with the law enforcement,” he said. “I hope the results of these goals will be reflected in the courtroom in a short period of time. To achieve this, I am assembling a team of highly experienced lawyers, each of whom has dedicated their legal careers to seeking justice for victims of crime.
To date, Panter’s team of attorneys includes:* Adam Kallsnick has been named First Assistant District Attorney. Kallsnick is a former criminal division chief in the Oklahoma County DA’s office and has extensive experience dealing with complex homicides and violent crimes, Panter said.* Lori McConnell is the to prosecute sex crimes, child abuse, and elder abuse. Panter said he spent his career in the Special Victims Unit in Oklahoma County and “is one of the best trial lawyers I’ve ever seen.”* Ryan Stephenson will prosecute. serious crime. He was Kallsnick and Panter’s team leader in Oklahoma County and was the former chief of the criminal division there. Stephenson has experience prosecuting capital punishment, aggravated murder and homicide, Panter said.* Rachel Thompson will be assigned to the Chandler office in Lincoln County. His career was spent in the Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office, and the last few years on the SVU team. Panter said he has experience in sex crimes, child abuse and violent crime prosecutions.
Most of the support staff remains at the office, he said, and he is also placing a lot of emphasis on rebuilding relationships with local law enforcement. Panter said he wants to restore public confidence in the attorney general’s office.
Panter was first appointed in October to fill the remaining term of former District Attorney Allan Grubb, who resigned in September after the trial of many districts in matters related to the operation of his office, then recommended his suspension. Grubb resigned before a dismissal hearing.
Grubb was elected to the position in 2017 after narrowly defeating Panter in that year’s District Attorney election and took office in January 2018 after the term of former District Attorney Richard Smothermon expired. seeking re-election.
Panter, who was Smothermon’s First Assistant, remained a resident of Shawnee but began working as an attorney in Oklahoma County in 2018 and continued to serve there until his appointment here in Pottawatomie County at the end it’s 2022.
Watch for updates.