March 2024 Newsletter
The Durham County District Attorney’s Office newsletter highlights the work staff do in and out of the courthouse.
In the Community
The Durham DA’s Office released its annual report, summarizing work done by the office in 2023. Each year, our annual reports cover new and ongoing initiatives, notable cases, and community engagement. Find the latest annual report here.
In the Office
The DA’s Office welcomed two new assistant district attorneys. Charlene Franks joined the Homicide & Violent Crimes Team. She has served as a prosecutor for more than 25 years, including five years previously with the Durham DA’s Office. Toni Cameron joined the District Court Team. She has served as a prosecutor and as a defense attorney for 20 years, practicing in at least 10 counties across the state.
Durham DA’s Office staff attended multi-day training to help prepare for the transition to eCourts. Staff learned how to use Odyssey, an integrated case management system, that will replace existing legacy programs in Durham County with the launch of eCourts on April 29. Court personnel also met about courtroom procedures and practiced using the technology.
In the Courts
Recently closed cases include:
- Assistant District Attorney Alex Herskowitz obtained convictions against a Florida man apprehended transporting drug to Durham in May 2023. The defendant pleaded guilty March 4 to attempted heroin trafficking and possession heroin with the intent to manufacture, sell or deliver it.
- Assistant District Attorney Michael Wallace secured a conviction in an August 2021 homicide. The victim was fatally shot in a drive-by shooting near the intersection of Main and Elm streets. One defendant pleaded guilty on March 18 to second-degree murder (a Class B2 felony), while a second co-defendant’s case remains pending.
- Assistant District Attorney Brittany Clinton obtained convictions in a nonfatal shooting. The shooting occurred in September 2022 in the McDougald Terrace neighborhood. One bystander was struck in the chest and another was hit in the ankle. In addition, several apartments and cars were damaged by gunfire. The defendant pleaded guilty March 18 to two counts of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill and possess a weapon of mass destruction.
