Press Release

Several Long Time Prosecutors Promoted to District Attorney Positions

July 19, 2007

Several long time prosecutors are being promoted to the position of District Attorney in Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Kodiak. Assistant District Attorney Adrienne Bachman, who has had over 20 years of experience, is appointed as Anchorage District Attorney effective immediately. "Adrienne brings to the position of Anchorage District Attorney years of experience prosecuting complex, high profile, violent felony cases in Anchorage and across Alaska from Ketchikan to St. Paul Island" said Attorney General Talis Colberg in making the appointment.

Adrienne Bachman has prosecuted criminal cases since 1986. Her work currently focuses on violent felonies and homicides, but she has a long career of prosecuting sex offenders. In 2006 she was named Prosecutor of the Year by the Department of Law. Adrienne frequently serves as a faculty member at the National College of District Attorneys based in Columbia, South Carolina. She teaches on a variety of topics for law enforcement, victim advocacy groups and other agencies that work in areas related to child abuse and sexual assault. She is respected by both judges and defense attorneys for her tough but fair administration of justice.

Anchorage, being the largest district attorney office in the state, is a training ground for new prosecutors. Several new attorneys will be starting in the office in the next few weeks. Ms. Bachman's skills as a mentor for young prosecutors are highly valued by Bachman's peers in the Department of Law.

A new District Attorney is also appointed for Fairbanks-Mike Gray. Mr. Gray will be moving from his position as Kodiak District Attorney to Fairbanks on August 13, 2007. "Mike brings to this challenging position a steady hand, good people skills, and a lot of experience," said Attorney General Colberg.

Gray received his undergraduate degree from James Madison University in 1977 and his law degree from The Marshall-Wythe School of Law at The College of William and Mary in 1981. He began his legal career as a Legal Services Corporation attorney in rural southern Virginia. In 1995, Gray resigned as the managing partner of King Fulgum Snead Nixon & Grimes, P.C. to follow his dream of living in Alaska. He was hired by the Department of Law on July 1, 1995, and has been the District Attorney in Kodiak for the past 10 years.

Assistant Kodiak District Attorney, Steven Wallace, will be moving into the position of Kodiak District Attorney. "Mr. Wallace brings with him a wide variety of experience that has served the Department well," said Attorney General Colberg.

Wallace, received a B.A. in Criminal Justice from Michigan State University and his law degree from the University of Oregon School of Law in 1988. Mr. Wallace was formerly the Kodiak District Attorney from 1993-1997. He has worked for the Department of Law for over 13 years. Over the years he has spent time in the district attorney offices of Palmer, Bethel, Anchorage, Kodiak, Kenai, Nome, Kotzebue, and in the Office of Special Prosecutions and Appeals.

Attorney General Colberg said, "All of these people represent the dedication and skills of the hard-working prosecutors across the state. Alaska is, and will be, well served by these appointments and by the other members of the Criminal Division."

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Department Media Contacts: Communications Director Patty Sullivan at patty.sullivan@alaska.gov or (907) 269-6368. Information Officer Sam Curtis at sam.curtis@alaska.gov or (907) 269-6269.