Glades County Gets Prosecutor

MOORE HAVEN, FL. -- (Nov. 10, 2005) -- State Attorney Steve Russell
announced today that Glades County now has its own fulltime prosecutor.
Thanks to the Glades County Commission and the Glades County Sheriff's
Department, offices have been provided within the Sheriff's Office for an
Assistant State Attorney and in the courthouse for an administrative
assistant. There will no longer be a commute from LaBelle to prosecute
cases. "This is a continuation of the long-range expansion plan for Hendry
and Glades," says Russell. "It started last spring when we expanded the
Hendry County office and added an additional prosecutor to the staff to
keep up with the growing caseload." Russell says, "We will continue to add
more prosecutors, paralegals and support staff as resources permit."

Assistant State Attorney Christopher Klink is in charge of the new office
and works with his Administrative Assistant Tina Thigpen. Christopher
began with the State Attorney's Office in 2003 working in the Naples
Office. He transferred to Hendry County in the spring of 2005 to make a
smooth transition as the head of the Glades Office. "Chris knows the area
and the people," says Russell. "By having an office in Glades County, law
enforcement will be able to receive timely information regarding the law
and will be able to receive immediate legal assistance in making arrests."
So far this year, nearly one thousand cases have originated out of Glades
County.