Navajo County

Leonard G. Brown has been practicing criminal law since 1981. Initially in private practice, Len later worked as a prosecutor with the Coconino County Attorney’s Office in Flagstaff, Arizona, and most recently as a deputy public defender in Navajo County prior to assuming his responsibilities as interim Public Defender. Len received his juris doctorate from Southern University School of Law in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and later acquired his Master of Laws degree in Criminal Law from State University of New York at Buffalo. While in New York, Len taught criminal justice classes and directed the Criminal Justice majors program at State University of New York at Fredonia. In addition to his full caseload of felony matters, Len covers the Holbrook Justice Court and oversees the Office of the Public Defender.

Richard Engler received B.A. and M.A. degrees from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., graduating from Georgetown University College of Law in 1979. Richard engaged in private practice until 2000, participating in complex litigation, certified class action lawsuits in federal court, and other civil litigation. His experience includes appellate work in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and post conviction relief in Superior Court. Richard joined the Navajo County Public Defender’s Office in 2004. Before joining this office he also worked as a judge pro tempore in the Yuma County Juvenile Court, civil deputy attorney in Yuma County, Associate Judge for the Quechan Tribe, and tribal attorney for the White Mountain Apache Tribe. He has responsibility for Mental Health Court and his special assignment is the Pinetop-Lakeside Justice Court.

Peter Gersten graduated from Brooklyn Law School in 1970 and worked four years with the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office. In 1974, Peter became the Executive Director of the Victim/Witness Assistance Project─the first federally funded project that helped victims and witnesses in the criminal courts in New York City. In 1977, Peter entered private practice specializing in criminal matters, particularly homicides. After 25 years of practice in New York City, Arizona beckoned him. He has been a member of the Arizona State Bar since 1996. Peter’s special assignments include coverage of the Winslow Justice Court and the development of a DWI Court.

Beverly Hines graduated from the University of Missouri-Kansas City Law School and has been a member of the Arizona State Bar since 1991. Beverly’s experience includes private practice wherein she concentrated in domestic relations matters, and ten years as a prosecutor in the Mohave County Attorney’s Office. She joined this office in 2007. Her responsibilities, in addition to a full caseload of felony matters, include representation of clients in Drug Court, and coverage of the Show Low Justice Court.

Kelly Knop handles the juvenile caseload exclusively. He also provides support for the Mental Health Court. Kelly graduated from Pepperdine University School of Law in Malibu, California, in 1978 and began practice in Arizona that year. Initially, Kelly worked misdemeanor cases as court-appointed counsel for indigent defendants in the Tucson City Court. In 1985, he was appointed to the Tucson Court as a magistrate. Returning to private practice in 1996, Kelly worked with Stephen Barnard, a renowned Arizona DUI attorney. In addition to his other responsibilities, Kelly represents all persons in Navajo County for which court-ordered treatment for severe mental illness is sought by the State.

Kris Moe graduated from Loyola University School of Law in New Orleans in 2001 and is licensed to practice in Louisiana and Arizona. In Louisiana, Kris was the appellate case manager for a law firm focused in criminal defense. Kris concentrated on state appeals, post conviction and federal habeas petitions for criminal defendants. She later entered private practice, and moved to Arizona after the Katrina disaster. In addition to her felony caseload, Kris covers Snowflake Justice Court and is a member of the newly formed Domestic Violence Task Force, representing indigent clients in Domestic Violence Court in Show Low, a pilot project instituted by County Attorney Brad Carlyon.