Lynch is new chief prosecutor

The Office of the Attorney General announced yesterday the appointment of Assistant Attorney General Kevin A. Lynch as the new chief prosecutor in the office’s criminal division.

Lynch replaced AAG Jeffery L. Warfield Sr., who had held the post since Jan. 30, 2006. The OAG press release said Warfield wanted to return to the courtroom full time.

On Friday, a lawmaker raised an issue about alleged nepotism involving Warfield. His wife, AAG Rebecca Warfield, works as one of his prosecutors in the OAG criminal division.

Rep. Stanley T. Torres, had also attacked Rebecca Warfield when she was serving as commissioner at the Department of Public Safety, questioned her new $65,000 annual salary. Torres said that Rebecca Warfield is paid more than some attorneys who had served longer at OAG, including Lynch prior to his new appointment.

“This impropriety is causing much demoralization in the AG’s office,” said Torres.

But press secretary Charles P. Reyes Jr. said that Lynch’s appointment had nothing to do with the nepotism allegation against the Warfields. “It was never an issue. When Rebecca returned to the OAG, they made an arrangement for her to report directly to the attorney general. So that negated any possible conflict of interest,” said Reyes.

Lynch is the longest tenured assistant attorney general in the Commonwealth. He has served the OAG in various capacities for the past 11 years, including as chief prosecutor from 1999 to 2002. He has most recently been counsel to the Immigration Division, where he handled deportation proceedings, immigration matters, and refugee protection, and prosecuted criminal labor violations on behalf of the Commonwealth. From 2002 to 2006, he was chief counsel to the Department of Labor.

The Attorney General’s Office gave Warfield credit for leading the criminal division for 28 months. During the past two years, the division has successfully charged and prosecuted the first cases under the CNMI’s new human trafficking laws, obtained guilty verdicts resulting in a life sentence for kidnapping and attempted murder, and prosecuted and received significant sentences for individuals convicted of copper wire thefts and poker robberies.

The office praised Warfield for his work before the CNMI Supreme Court, where he received positive results in cases against taxi driver Pranee Jindawong for drunk driving and Shawn Appleby for murder. Warfield was also commended for winning a conviction in the CNMI’s first trial for stalking under our recently enacted Domestic Violence laws.

Further, the OAG said Warfield had effectively represented the Commonwealth’s interests in Kazuyoshi Miura’s extradition proceedings. “Under international media scrutiny, AAG Warfield defeated the defendant’s attempt to have this fugitive from justice case dismissed,” the OAG said.

Miura is wanted in the State of California for murder and conspiracy to commit murder, and remains in CNMI custody while legal wrangling continues in California and CNMI courts.

“Although I have been pleased with Mr. Warfield and would welcome his continued service as chief prosecutor, I certainly respect his desire to serve the Commonwealth in a different role,” said Attorney General Matthew T. Gregory.

“Mr. Warfield passed the CNMI Bar Exam in February 2008 and was sworn in during a ceremony at the Supreme Court on May 1, 2008. This reflects a commitment to serve the Commonwealth, and Jeff is an inspirational and valued asset to the Office of the Attorney General,” Gregory added.