ADA Garcia-Lamarca Receives Victim Services Award

NEWS RELEASE
April 25, 2023
For immediate release

DURHAM, NC — Assistant District Attorney Angela Garcia-Lamarca received the Victim Services Award for Distinguished Prosecutor from the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Eastern and Middle Districts of North Carolina and the Victim Services Interagency Council of North Carolina.

The award was presented to Garcia-Lamarca on April 25 as part of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week. Garcia-Lamarca was among three people honored for their efforts to support crime victims and victims’ rights during a ceremony that featured Governor Roy Cooper as guest speaker.

Garcia-Lamarca was recognized for her work as part of Durham’s Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI) — a trauma-informed and survivor-centered effort to revisit and resolve cases with previously untested sexual assault evidence kits. Garcia-Lamarca joined the Durham County District Attorney’s Office Special Victims Unit in January 2022 as the office’s designated SAKI prosecutor. This year, she has taken on additional, high-level cases including homicides.

Garcia-Lamarca was nominated by Victim Advocate Tammy Tavarez with the Durham Police Department Cold Case Sexual Assault Unit, who noted a February trial in which Garcia-Lamarca obtained convictions in a 2018 rape, her “caring essence and the heart she has for survivors.” The award was presented by United States Attorney for the Middle District of North Carolina Sandra J. Hairston.

“I want to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Victim Services Interagency Council for this recognition, as well as DPD Victim Advocate Tammy Tavarez, whose tireless work is critical to the Sexual Assault Kit Initiative,” said Garcia-Lamarca. “It’s an honor to be able to assist survivors who may be feeling hopeless or forgotten, amplify their courageous voices, and work together to hold the person who hurt them accountable.”

As SAKI prosecutor, Garcia-Lamarca has worked directly with the Cold Case Sexual Assault Unit to engage survivors and prosecute cases. Through this partnership, since July 2020, the Durham DA’s Office has obtained convictions against nine SAKI defendants — some repeat offenders — in connection with 12 sexual assaults going back to 2005.

Garcia-Lamarca has extensive experience prosecuting cases involving domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse, as well as a background as a victim advocate. In addition to a law degree, she has a Master’s in Social Work and worked with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office Crisis Intervention Unit, the Orange County Rape Crisis Center and Guardian Ad Litem prior to serving as a prosecutor in both Mecklenburg and Durham counties.

“ADA Garcia-Lamarca models for us all deep compassion for survivors coupled with dogged pursuit of justice,” said Special Victims Unit Lead ADA Kendra Montgomery-Blinn. “Through her education and experience, she understands the trauma survivors have experienced and works hard to minimize re-traumatization during the court process, even going to survivors’ homes to meet them where they are most comfortable. ADA Garcia-Lamarca has a unique ability to connect with and empower survivors.”

It is the second time in three years a member of the Durham DA’s Office has received the Victim Services Award for Distinguished Prosecutor. Special Victims Unit ADA Joshua Sotomayor received the honor in 2021.

“ADA Garcia-Lamarca has brought so much skill and care to the most difficult cases our office receives: sexual assaults and now homicides,” said Durham District Attorney Satana Deberry. “Her work exemplifies the theme for this year’s Crime Victims’ Rights Week observance — “Survivor Voices: Elevate, Engage, Effect Change” — as well as the trauma-informed services we strive to provide survivors in the Durham DA’s Office.”

The Durham County District Attorney’s Office employs about 40 people, including prosecutors, administrators, victim service coordinators, legal assistants, and support staff. The Office is led by District Attorney Satana Deberry, who took office on January 1, 2019. The Office handles all criminal cases in Durham County.