The Greene County Attorney’s Office recently held its first jury trial of 2021.

County Attorney Thomas Laehn says he had to prep several criminal cases before his jury trial last month, which normally happens because certain criminals decide to accept a plea deal in lieu of going to trial. Laehn points out there is an annual average between 250-300 crimes that are committed in Greene County. In a typical year, Laehn is given about ten trial dates, which means about 90-percent of the criminal cases must be resolved through a plea deal. 

Since taking over as county attorney in 2018, Laehn has been using the same fundamental criteria to determine which cases should go to trial, which he believes has been making progress.

“I think the word is spreading through the defense bar that I will take any case to trial if the defendant is not willing to accept responsibility for his or her actions and a responsible punishment, I will take that case to trial.”

Laehn says the most recent jury trial case was about an aggravated misdemeanor for driving while barred. He adds the next trial is scheduled for April 6th and he has several cases to consider and prepare to take to trial on that date.