Candidate for
District Attorney; County of Sacramento

Todd Leras is the most qualified candidate running for Sacramento County District Attorney in 2014. He is a former Prosecutor of the Year in that office, and has logged more than 22 years working in the criminal justice system, as a Sacramento County Deputy and Supervising Deputy District Attorney, Assistant U.S. Attorney and Assistant Public Defender.

Todd has successfully prosecuted thousands of cases, personally putting bad characters not only in county jail, but state and federal prison. Todd has put away child pornographers, murderers, sex and human traffickers, rapists, child molesters, spousal abusers, drug traffickers and white collar criminals involved in such crimes as major mortgage fraud.

Todd knows the Sacramento County DA office: he was voted Prosecutor of the Year at that office in 1998 by his fellow prosecutors. He has the experience to know what works, and doesn't work, in a prosecutor's office.

As the next District Attorney, Todd will maintain, and improve public safety for all Sacramento County residents in this new, challenging public safety environment.

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

Age: 50
Family: Married, with two children
Resides: Fair Oaks, CA.
Education: University of California, Berkeley + J.D., May 1989; University of California, Davis + B.A. (with Highest Honors), March 1986.

Work Experience:

• Assistant United States Attorney, Eastern District of California (August 2008 through September, 2013)

• Deputy and Supervising Deputy District Attorney, Sacramento County District Attorney's Office (May 1995 through July 2008).

• Assistant Public Defender, Sacramento county Public Defender's Office (November 1991 through May 1995).

• Associate Attorney, McDonough, Holland & Allen, Sacramento (September 1989 through November 1991)

• Prosecutor of the Year 1998, Brian L. Hintz Award at Sacramento County District Attorney's Office.

• Supervisor of Consumer and Environmental Protection Division (Managed the most complex litigation undertaken by the DA Office: a lawsuit to recover civil penalties from oil companies for groundwater contamination).

• Gang Unit (Prosecution of hardcore gang members for homicides, drive-by shootings and serious gang-sponsored criminal offenses).

• Major Crime Division (prosecution of homicides, specific circumstances/death penalty cases).

• Domestic Violence Unit (Prosecution of felony level domestic abuse cases, including homicides and attempted murders).

• Supervisor of Misdemeanor Calendar ( Oversight of misdemeanor courts; reviewed appellate briefing and motions prepared by new prosecutors and interns)

• Lead Attorney, Misdemeanor Trials (Responsible for supervision and training of entry level prosecutors)

• Investigation and prosecution of drug trafficking conspiracies, major mortgage fraud, production of child pornography, human sex trafficking and armed bank robberies.

• Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force investigations, including charging, indictment, trial and appeal. Successfully briefed and argued appeals before the 9th Circuit Court of Appeal.

• Brian L. Hintz Prosecutor of the Year Award (1998). Annual Sacramento County honor recognizing outstanding contributions of a county prosecutor by fellow prosecutors.

• Law Enforcement Instructor, 2011-2013. Lectured Fourth Amendment case law to law enforcement officers from around the U.S. as part of training in Drug Interdiction Programs. Received a Drug Enforcement Administration Special Award in 2012.

• Minority Student Outreach Program Instructor, 2005 through 2008. Participated in programs at University of California, University of the Pacific and Sacramento City College to provide assistance and guidance to underprivileged students interested in a legal education and careers.

• Organizer/Instructor Sacramento County Legal Research Assistance Academy, 2004 and 2005. Responsible for organizing and instruction (with other experienced prosecutor and supervisors) a course for entry level attorneys, including student from other federal and state agencies.

• Guest Instructor, McGeorge School of a Law, Sacramento Sheriff's Academy, Sacramento Police Academy, 1999 through 2003. Served as instructor in various courses ranging from use of multiple juries, prosecution of cases with child victims and presentation of courtroom testimony.

• Board Member, Sacramento County District Attorney's Association, 1998 through 2008. Elected to represent members of the Sacramento County District Attorney's Association in judicial/election endorsements and labor issues.