Coconino County Attorney's Office

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Coconino County Attorney's Office

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We serve the public by advocating for justice and empowering our community to thrive.

10/30/2026

Please join us in welcoming Melissa Lord and Kiara Nikas to the Coconino County Attorney’s Office!

Melissa joins CCAO as our Special Investigator after a distinguished 21-year career with the Phoenix Police Department, where she served as an undercover detective, homicide detective, and sergeant in the Violent Crimes Bureau. Melissa graduated from NAU and brings extensive investigative and leadership experience to support our prosecutors, law enforcement partners, and victims.

Kiara joins our Civil Division as a Legal Assistant II. She recently earned her Master of Legal Studies from ASU’s Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, with emphases in civil and administrative law, Federal Indian Law, and Tribal Self-Governance. Kiara is a citizen of the Navajo Nation and previously worked in higher education at NAU and ASU. She brings a strong educational background and commitment to public service.

We’re glad to have you both on the CCAO team!

10/27/2026

Join us for the Justice Bus Event in Page, AZ on October 29, 2026, from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM at the Page Justice Court!

The CJCC Justice Bus is a mobile one stop hub delivering legal, civic, and social services to communities throughout rural Coconino County.

At this event, Northern Arizona residents can connect with agencies offering:
• Voting Information
• Victims Rights Information
• AHCCCS Services
• Court Services
• Marriage Licenses
• Warrant Lookup/Quash
…and more.

We look forward to supporting accessible justice and essential services in our community!

10/23/2026

Yesterday, Senior Charging Attorney Eric Ruchensky and Deputy County Attorney Amber Kurtz visited Northern Arizona University to lead a hands-on mock grand jury experience for 20 students in Instructor Paul Garns’ Criminal Law class.

Students evaluated evidence in a fictional case to determine whether probable cause existed to move forward, gaining valuable insight into the justice system.

Thank you to NAU and Instructor Garns for this opportunity to connect classroom learning with courtroom practice and inspire future careers in public service.

10/21/2026

Christian Cordova has been sentenced to 7.5 years in prison for dangerous aggravated assault after repeatedly stabbing a woman at a residence on Jamison Boulevard.

On March 28, 2026, Flagstaff Police Department officers responded to a reported stabbing and found the victim with multiple stab wounds to her upper back and arm. A family member was applying pressure to her wounds. She was transported to Flagstaff Medical Center for treatment and survived the attack.
Witnesses reported that Cordova entered the bedroom where the victim had gone to lie down and stabbed her repeatedly. A family member intervened, pulled Cordova away, and took the knife from him.

The Coconino County Attorney’s Office thanks Deputy County Attorney Michael Victor for prosecuting this case and the Flagstaff Police Department for its response and investigation. We also thank the emergency medical personnel who treated the victim and the family members who stepped in to help her.

Our office remains committed to protecting victims, holding violent offenders accountable, and keeping our community safe.

10/17/2026

⭐ Partner Spotlight

This October, North Star Task Force is highlighting the partners who help strengthen prevention, response, and support for survivors across our community.

The Coconino County Attorney's Office plays an important role in supporting a coordinated response to exploitation, violence, and trafficking by working alongside community organizations, law enforcement, and advocates.

Through partnership and shared commitment, we can help:

💜 Center survivor voices
🛡️ Promote safety and accountability
📚 Increase community awareness
🤝 Connect individuals with resources and support

Thank you to the Coconino County Attorney’s Office for your continued partnership and dedication to building a safer Northern Arizona.

10/14/2026

We're looking for a talented and dedicated public servant to join CCAO!

The Coconino County Attorney's Office is a public law office in Northern Arizona located in the heart of Flagstaff. We are a team of approximately 20 attorneys and 30 legal staff who are dedicated to the vigorous and fair prosecution of crime throughout Coconino County, protection of the rights of crime victims, and effective legal representation of the County and County special districts. The CCAO is one of largest law offices in Northern Arizona and sets the example at the State and National levels in vision and design for rural attorney offices.

We're currently accepting applications for the position of Deputy County Attorney I-IV. Applications are encouraged and accepted using this link:

https://www.governmentjobs.com/.../criminal-attorney-i-iv...

This position is ideal for those who have recently received their bar license and are looking to pursue a career as a felony prosecutor. Opportunity may be given to this attorney to second- chair felony criminal cases depending on the attorney’s experience, performance, and desire to do so. Coconino County is a vibrant and diverse organization that stands apart in innovation among our employees and service to our residents. We can't wait for you to join us!

10/08/2026

County Attorney Ammon Barker and Executive Assistant Jennifer Yazzie attended the Western Navajo Fair in Tuba City, where they joined KTNN Radio to discuss our Peacemaking Diversion Program and upcoming Justice Bus events.

It was great to see so many families, especially elders and children, enjoying the fair.

Thank you to KTNN for helping us share our efforts to expand access to justice and strengthen community connections throughout Coconino County.

10/01/2026

The Coconino County Attorney’s Office stands in solidarity with survivors of domestic violence and supports victim safety, access to resources, and accountability.

Our team members wear purple to represent hope, courage, resilience, and support for survivors and their families.

Moving from awareness to action requires continued collaboration, advocacy, and ensuring survivors and their children have access to the services and protections they need.

Together, we remain dedicated to supporting survivors and strengthening the safety and well-being of our community.

09/29/2026

CCAO JUSTICE UPDATE | State v. Aquilino Martin Exposito III

A Coconino County Superior Court judge sentenced Aquilino Martin Exposito III to a total of 29 years in the Arizona Department of Corrections for attempting to kill two people during a 2025 shooting in Page.

Exposito previously pleaded guilty to two counts of Attempted First Degree Murder, both Class 2 dangerous felony offenses. The Court sentenced him to 14 years on Count 1 and 15 years on Count 2, with the sentences to run consecutively.

On July 29, 2025, Exposito drove onto the Page Steel property armed with a loaded handgun and opened fire. He fired multiple rounds at one victim as that person attempted to escape in an ATV, with two rounds striking the windshield near the driver’s seat. Exposito then fired multiple rounds at a second victim as that person ran for cover.

Exposito later fled to a Page motel, where law enforcement located him. During an extended standoff, he admitted that he had gone to Page Steel intending to shoot the two victims. Page Police Chief Tim Lange and other law enforcement officers ultimately negotiated his peaceful surrender.

No person was struck by the gunfire, but the shooting placed the two intended victims and several nearby employees in grave danger and caused lasting harm to the victims and their families.

“The victims and their families have been deeply involved throughout this case, and their voices were especially powerful at sentencing. The examples and statements they shared made clear that the impact of this violence extends far beyond the moments when the shots were fired. I am grateful for their courage, their participation in this process, and their willingness to make sure the Court understood the lasting impact this crime has had on their family and community,” said Coconino County Attorney Ammon Barker.

The Coconino County Attorney’s Office thanks the Page Police Department and the other law enforcement officers who responded to an extraordinarily dangerous situation and worked to bring it to a peaceful conclusion.

09/25/2026

Please join us in welcoming our impressive fall interns to the Coconino County Attorney’s Office!

• Sloane Podwika studies politics, philosophy, and law at NAU, serves as vice president of the tennis club and secretary of Women in Law, and has spent years coaching tennis, including with elementary school students in Flagstaff.
• Danielle Gallett graduates from NAU in December with a degree in criminal justice, plans to attend law school, and hopes to become a prosecutor; her work in childcare, coaching, and hospitality has taught her to stay calm and connect with people.
• Sariah Lewis attends NAU and hopes to build a legal career in criminal law or family courts; she is eager to learn from our attorneys and see firsthand how court proceedings and case decisions work.
• Nayeli Leal studies political science at NAU, helps students navigate the transition to college as a community assistant, and has volunteered with a food bank and elementary school; she plans to apply to law school this fall.
• Adriana “Anni” Souza has been interested in criminal justice since second grade and brings four years of customer service experience, along with a background in office work, leadership, and public speaking.

We’re glad they chose to spend the semester with CCAO!

Pictured left to right in the first photo: Sloane Podwika, Ammon Barker, Danielle Gallett, and Sariah Lewis. Pictured left to right in the second photo: Ammon Barker, Nayeli Leal, and Adriana “Anni” Souza.

Address

110 E Cherry Avenue
Flagstaff, AZ
86001

Telephone

+19286798200

Website

https://coconino.az.gov/162/County-Attorney

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