Assistant prosecutor to join Justice Dept.

Toepfer to work in Youngstown office

By CHRISTOPHER BOBBY Tribune Chronicle
WARREN — Each time David Toepfer stands up in the courtroom to address the jury or question a witness, he buttons his jacket.

It’s a trait he’s learned. One which has become more of a habit with the more trials he has under his belt.

Of course in Toepfer’s case, the belt isn’t even that important since he’s one of the few who wears suspenders — another trademark the assistant county prosecutor has developed in slightly less than 10 years on the job.

The guy is neat. He has the most orderly and organized office among the other attorneys in the office. He’s prepared and rarely uses written notes while delivering his opening statements and closing arguments.

In fact, it’s tough to find anyone among cops, attorneys, colleagues or co-workers in the office, in the courthouse, or on the streets to say an unkind word about Toepfer ... unless you talk to the dozens of criminal defendants he’s put behind bars.

It’s most likely that kind of success has landed him a new job as a federal prosecutor with the U.S. Justice Department, a position he’ll start later this month.

Toepfer will be working out of an office in Youngstown in the general crimes division. It allows him to remain in the house where he grew up.

It also allows his wife, Mary, the opportunity to continue to teach writing and composition at Hiram College.

‘‘I know it might be hard to believe, but taking the new job is tough. It’s one of the most difficult decisions I’ve had to make. Since I passed the bar, my first dream job was to work in the Trumbull County Prosecutor’s Office. My second dream was to serve as a federal prosecutor,’’ said Toepfer, who spent four years as an intern and then a prosecutor in Portage County until he was offered a job here.

‘‘Dave started about a year before I did,” said Assistant Prosecutor Chris Becker, “but since both of us came from different counties I found myself heading down the hall to his office to compare notes. We’d quiz each other about how they do things here compared to where we’d been.’’ Becker worked as a prosecutor in Jefferson County.

‘‘Dave’s just been a vital player on this staff. I’ll miss him,’’ said Prosecutor Dennis Watkins. ‘‘I think it’s a compliment that the U.S. Attorney hired Dave. It’s good to see any member of the staff advance their career.’’

Watkins pointed out that Toepfer is among several staff members he’s worked with who have gone on to become common pleas or appellate judges, magistrates or serve in other elected offices.

Toepfer’s slot on the staff will be filled by Gina Arnaut, a former intern in the local office who has been prosecuting cases in Mahoning County.

As for his record, Toepfer has prosecuted cases ranging from juvenile truancy to capital murder.

He handled the case of the municipal court clerk who embezzled thousands of dollars over a period of several years. He also has put a Newton Falls man behind bars for 33 years for raping a stripper, and won the conviction of a man who tortured his girlfriend with a hot clothes iron.

Still, for all those accomplishments, a compliment from an opposing defense attorney could be the biggest feather in his cap.

‘‘Dave is just a straight-shooter,’’ said defense attorney Jeff Goodman, who first met Dave at a mock trial competition and before both were in adversarial roles.

‘‘With Dave you don’t ever get any tricks. His word is good and he doesn’t over-indict cases,’’ said Goodman.



cbobby@tribune-chronicle.com