Donna Hansen, Felony Division Chief

The Felony Trial Division is responsible for prosecuting felony criminal offenses not handled by the specialized divisions. Felony offenses are serious crimes which are punishable by death or confinement in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (penitentiary or state jail) or by a suspended sentence. Examples of felony offenses are: capital murder; murder; aggravated robbery; sexual assault; sexual offenses against children; injury to a child or an elderly individual; aggravated assault; identity theft; credit and debit card abuse; and certain theft and drug offenses. The Felony Division is staffed by 13 assistant district attorneys, four investigators and four legal assistants.

Montgomery County has four District Courts with jurisdiction over felony offenses. The District Attorney's Office has assigned a team of three prosecutors to each of these courts, consisting of a Court Chief and two additional, experienced prosecutors. These prosecutors handle thousands of felony offenses each year.

In evaluating a case, the prosecutor examines the evidence and the offender's previous criminal history, interviews witnesses, consults with the victim(s), and makes a determination regarding whether a plea bargain should be offered to the defendant. In cases which are not disposed of by an agreed sentence, the prosecutor prepares the case for trial by a jury of twelve citizens of Montgomery County. The sentences that have been assessed by Montgomery County juries directly impact the sentences offered by prosecutors in evaluating similar cases for plea bargaining or trial.

Felony Trial Division Personnel

Division Chief ADA Donna Hansen