Attorney General Daniel Cameron presented four Outstanding Prosecutor Awards to state prosecutors for their exemplary service to the citizens of Kentucky and the Unified Prosecutorial System.
The 2020 Outstanding Prosecutor Award recipients include:
The Honorable Dawn C. Letcher, Nicholas County Attorney
Since 2003, Dawn Letcher has served as Nicholas County Attorney. After graduating from the University of Kentucky law school in 1992, Letcher worked in private practice before being elected to her current position. As a native of Nicholas County, she works hard to protect the residents of her community by vigorously pursuing justice for the good of the people. In addition to her role as County Attorney, Letcher also serves her community as an attorney for the Nicholas County School Board and offers pro-bono services to those in need through her private practice. Her deep commitment to her faith, coupled with her work ethic make her a powerful voice for the voiceless and an outstanding advocate.
The Honorable Lou Anna Red Corn, representing the 22nd Judicial Circuit, which consists of Fayette County
Lou Anna Red Corn joined the Fayette County Office of the Commonwealth's Attorney in 1987, was appointed Commonwealth's Attorney in 2016, and was elected to a six-year term in 2018. She is a career prosecutor with 33 years of prosecutorial experience, and the first female Commonwealth’s Attorney for Lexington, and as a member of the Osage Nation, she is the first Native American to serve as a Commonwealth’s Attorney in Kentucky. Before becoming a prosecutor, Red Corn was a public defender and worked briefly in civil practice. Red Corn has tried more than 230 felony cases to juries, including 54 homicides. Red Corn is a strong advocate for victims, especially child sexual abuse and exploitation victims and, last year, assisted the Attorney General's Office in developing a Child Abuse Prosecution Toolkit to aid Kentucky's prosecutors in trying cases related to child abuse and neglect.
The Honorable Dennis Foust, serving the 42nd Judicial Circuit, which includes Calloway and Marshall Counties
Prior to becoming the Commonwealth's Attorney for the 42nd Judicial Circuit in 2018, Dennis Foust served as Marshall County Circuit Court Judge for 18 years and as Marshall County District Judge for seven years. Before his judicial career, Foust worked in private practice. In 1991, he was honored as the youngest judge in Kentucky, and in 2005 Foust was named Kentucky's Outstanding Trial Judge by the Kentucky Academy of Trial Attorneys. In addition to his professional accolades, he actively betters his community as a deacon and church treasurer at Zion Cause Baptist Church, serves in Kentucky's retired judge program, and advocates for Marshall County residents as their Assistant County Attorney. As Commonwealth's Attorney and Marshall County Assistant Attorney, he has worked alongside Marshall County Attorney Jason Darnall to pursue justice in the 2018 Marshall County High School shooting.
The Honorable Jason Darnall, Marshall County Attorney
Jason Darnall joined the Marshall County Attorney Office as Assistant County Attorney in 2004 and was elected Marshall County Attorney in 2018. Prior to joining the office, he clerked for Kentucky Court of appeals Judge Rick A. Johnson. As a prosecutor, Jason has an 88% conviction rate in DUI cases, collected over $2 million in restitution for crime victims, and overseas one of Kentucky's most efficient child support collection offices. He has been recognized by the Marshall County Rotary Club as a Paul Harris Fellow, serves on the Marshall County High School Athletic Association board, supports H.O.P.E. Clinic and other local charities. In addition to these honors, he was awarded the Ian Sonego Award of Excellence by the Attorney General's Office in 2018. Darnall has demonstrated outstanding leadership and dedication to the citizens of Marshall County in the wake of the 2018 Marshall County High School shooting by ensuring every aspect of the criminal case was handled properly.