Misdemeanor Trial Division

 Tiana Sanford, Misdemeanor Division Chief

As Chief of the Misdemeanor Division, Tiana supervises all of the prosecutors, investigators, and support staff assigned to the Justice and County Courts, oversees all cases involving Animal Cruelty, and focuses on the education, training, and development of newly appointed prosecutors. 

Tiana is a graduate of Texas A&M University and the University of Houston Law Center.  Tiana began her legal career in the Misdemeanor Division at the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office in 2009.  Throughout the years, Tiana has served in various positions in the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office, including as a District Court Chief Prosecutor, the Chief Prosecutor of the Public Integrity Section, and as a Special Prosecutor for cases in various counties across Texas.  In 2019, Tiana was promoted to her current position as Misdemeanor Division Chief. 

In addition to her various duties as Misdemeanor Division Chief, Tiana also serves as Legislative Liaison for the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office to the Texas State Legislatures, on the Board of Directors and various committees for the Texas District and County Attorneys Association, and frequently trains prosecutors and judges across Texas.

She is Board Certified in Criminal Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.

The Misdemeanor Trial Division of the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office is responsible for the prosecution of all Class A and B misdemeanors filed in Montgomery County, as well as the Class C misdemeanors filed in the Justice of the Peace Courts.

Class A misdemeanor offenses are those for which punishment may be assessed at a fine of up to $4000, incarceration in the county jail for up to one year, or both such fine and incarceration. Examples of Class A misdemeanors include Driving While Intoxicated-Second Offense, Assault with Bodily Injury on a Family Member, Theft from $500 - $1500 and Burglary of a Motor Vehicle.

Class B misdemeanor offenses, like Driving While Intoxicated-First Offense and Theft from $50 to $500, are those for which punishment may be assessed at a fine of up to $2000, incarceration in the county jail for up to 180 days, or both such fine and incarceration.

Class C misdemeanor offenses are those for which punishment may be assessed at a fine only, and include Health & Safety Code violations, Parks & Wildlife Code violations, as well as traffic offenses such as Speeding and Failure to Maintain Financial Responsibility (driving without valid insurance).

The Misdemeanor Trial Division is staffed by twelve prosecutors that are assigned to the three County Criminal Courts and the Justice of the Peace Courts. These prosecutors are assisted by two investigators and four support staff. On average, this division handles over 10,000 cases a year. The Misdemeanor Division Chief and County Court Chiefs train the misdemeanor prosecutors to follow the highest ethical standards, to properly evaluate and try criminal cases, and to see that justice is done.

Misdemeanor Trial Division Personnel

Division Chief ADA Tiana Sanford

 

County Court at Law #1

  • Chief ADA Clay Casey

  • ADA Margaret Odunze

  • ADA Merit Marshall

  • Legal Asst. Gracey Doane

County Court at Law #4

  • Chief ADA Criss Cole

  • ADA Trenton Doddy

  • ADA Lindsey Miller

  • Legal Asst. Blake Lenahan

County Court at Law #5

  • Chief ADA Mary Garcia

  • ADA Amber Mitchell

  • ADA Erin Delano

  • Legal Asst. Kirsten Cutter

Justice of the Peace Courts

  • ADA Ann Kuykendall

  • ADA

Investigators

 

SGT. Investigator Mike Wright
Investigator Joseph Oliver

 

Victim Assistance

 

VAC Amber Reyes
Victim Assistance Info