John R. Hayne is the First Assistant County Attorney.  He graduated from Paul Dunbar High School (Lexington). He is a 2003 graduate of Transylvania University with a B.A. in accounting,  earned his master’s degree in accounting from the University of Kentucky in 2004, and his law degree from the University of Kentucky in 2007. Prior to joining the Fayette County Attorney’s Office in August, 2008, John was the staff attorney for Judge Thomas Clark of the Fayette Circuit Court.   John was an Assistant Fayette County Attorney in the general prosecution division from 2008 to 2018. During this time, John  also served as a Special Assistant United States Attorney in the Lexington office of the U.S. Attorney from 2014-16 prosecuting federal crimes involving firearms, narcotics, and white-collar fraud. John has also served as a special assistant Commonwealth Attorney in Bourbon and Scott Counties where he tried cases to a jury for various felony offenses including Murder, Rape, Burglary and Arson. In addition to the practice of law, John has also served as a part-time instructor of accounting at Transylvania University. John has previously served as a board member of the Bluegrass Rape Crisis Center, The First Tee of Lexington, and the Transylvania Alumni Board. John is currently on the advisory board of the North Lexington YMCA Board, a mentor for the Transylvania 100 Doors program and the treasurer of You Matter Kentucky! (a juvenile treatment court program).

Bethany Thompson is a Morgan County native who took a non-traditional path to her legal career, serving as Active/Guard Reserve in the Kentucky National Guard before graduating from American Military University with a bachelor’s degree in legal studies. After honorable discharge from military service, Bethany served as a Legal Assistant for Kentucky Communications Network Authority, where she discovered her passion for law and equity. She was admitted to and graduated from the University of Kentucky J. David Rosenberg College of Law. During law school, Bethany interned both for 21^st Judicial Circuit Judge Hon. David A. Barber and The Spurgeon Law Group. Upon graduation, she found her career with the Fayette County Attorney’s Office. Bethany is honored and grateful to contribute to the Fayette County Attorney’s mission of serving the citizens of Fayette County.

Ryan Chailland was admitted to the Kentucky Bar in 2012.  Much of his legal career has been practicing law in state government.  He first worked as a prosecutor with the Education Professional Standards Board prosecuting teacher misconduct.  He then spent many years with the Department of Public Advocacy Post-Conviction Branch litigating for criminal defendants wrongfully convicted of crimes.  In 2024, Ryan joined the Fayette County Attorney’s Office in General Prosecution.

Elizabeth Bancroft graduated from Michigan State University and Valparaiso School of Law, receiving her J.D. degree in 1996. She worked as a deputy prosecutor for three years in South Bend, Indiana, and later formed her own law firm which operated for two years. She relocated to Lexington in 2002, and joined the Fayette County Attorney’s Office in July, 2002 as a general prosecutor. Liz has a lead role in the office in running the Fayette County Drug Court and assisting families with Casey’s Law petitions (forced drug treatment).

Karema Eldahan is a native of Middlesboro, Kentucky.  She graduated from American University in Washington, D.C. with a B.A. in Law & Society and a concentration in Arabic language.  She obtained her J.D. from the University of Kentucky College of Law.  Prior to joining the Office of the Fayette County Attorney, Karema worked as a public defender for 10 years where she handled trial level misdemeanors and complex felonies including death penalty matters.  Karema was the directing attorney of the Georgetown Trial Office when she joined the Office of the Fayette County Attorney in 2023.  Her interests include the intersection of substance use and mental health issues in the criminal legal system and the use of evidence-based practices in reducing recidivism.  Karema volunteers her time in the local recovery community and is a board member of Recovery Café Lexington.

Charles “Sam” Finley grew up in the small town of Manchester, Kentucky. He graduated from the University of Kentucky with a B.A. in history and a minor in geography in 2008. He received his law degree from Salmon P. Chase College of Law in May, 2011. Throughout law school, Sam worked as a prosecution intern at the Fayette County Attorney’s Office. In October, 2011, Sam was hired as an Assistant County Attorney and began working in our Juvenile Division. He is currently in General Prosecution.

R. Lee Greenup Lee Greenup was born and raised in Bourbon County, Kentucky. He graduated from Transylvania University, read postgraduate British history and government at Exeter College, Oxford and earned a J.D. from the University of Kentucky. He returned to his hometown of Paris, Kentucky and practiced for sixteen years, focusing on criminal defense. In October of 1999, he became an Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney in the Fourteenth Judicial Circuit and worked there until January 1, 2019, when he joined the Fayette County Attorney’s Office.

Alexander Wheeler joined our team in the beginning of 2024. He graduated from the University of Kentucky J.D. Rosenberg College of Law in 2020 after graduating from the University of Kentucky undergraduate program in 2015. During law school Alexander clerked at a local defense firm as well as multiple personal injury firms. Upon graduation he began his legal career with a primary focus on personal injury law and eventually opened his own practice which he ran for two years prior to entering government work. Alexander is married with two children and spends his time with them enjoying the outdoors when the weather permits by hiking and traveling or hanging out together at home.

Miles Brandon grew up in Georgetown, Kentucky. He graduated magna cum laude from Georgetown College in 2019 with a degree in political science and a minor in history. He received his law degree from UK College of Law in 2022. Before joining the Fayette County Attorney’s Office in August 2023, Miles practiced workers’ compensation defense in Lexington and Louisville.

Daniel O. Mullen is an Assistant County Attorney in Fayette County. Originally from Western Kentucky, Daniel has been in Lexington for ten years and joined the Fayette County Attorney’s Office in November of 2022. During his undergraduate career at the University of Kentucky, Daniel earned a B.A. in Political Science while minoring in both History and Biology. He also interned in private criminal defense prior to attending law school at the University of Kentucky. While in Law School, he was an active member in both Moot Court and the American Constitution Society, as well as interning with the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office and subsequently spending a year as an Extern with the Kentucky Innocence Project.

Lindsay Perdue – Lindsay is originally from Lexington, Kentucky. She graduated from Eastern Kentucky University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Public Relations in 2008. In 2013, she earned her Juris Doctorate from Salmon P. Chase College of Law at Northern Kentucky University. After law school, she worked as an attorney with Legal Aid of the Bluegrass in Ashland, Kentucky. In 2015, she returned to Lexington and worked as a public defender with the Department of Public Advocacy. In the Fall of 2021, she joined the Fayette County Attorney’s Office in General Prosecution.

Brian G. Powell is a 2014 graduate of the Capital University Law School.  He is admitted to the bar of the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the Federal Court of the United Sates District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky.  The first eight years of Brian’s legal practice were in civil litigation primarily representing clients protected by the Federal Employer’s Liability Act and Federal Railroad Safety Act.   In July 2023 Brian was hired as an Assistant County Attorney and began working in general prosecution.  Prior to joining the Fayette County Attorney’s Office Brian litigated for the Department of Public Advocacy in Lexington Kentucky’s trial office.

Brittany Z. Wright graduated from the University of Louisville with a B.S. in Administration of Justice. She moved to Mississippi and worked as a legal assistant at the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Northern District of Mississippi. In 2016, Brittany moved back to Kentucky to attend law school. Throughout law school, Brittany worked as a Judicial Clerk for U.S. District Court Judge William Bertlesman, Kentucky Court of Appeals Judge Glenn Acree, and 14th Judicial Circuit Chief Judge Jeremy Mattox. She also worked as a legal intern at the Ohio Justice & Policy Center in the Constitutional Litigation Clinic during her 3L year. Brittany received her J.D. from Salmon P. Chase College of Law in 2019. She became a Staff Attorney for Judge Mattox and worked there until July 2021, when she joined the Fayette County Attorney’s Office in general prosecution.

Janie Lee Boyd is the prosecutor for Juvenile Public Offense cases. She was born and raised in Floyd County Kentucky, but she’s called Lexington home for over 10 years. She attended Morehead State University and obtained a B.S. in Biology. Janie was a laboratory scientist when she decided to attend the University of Kentucky College of Law. During Law School she worked for private firms that focused on criminal defense and spent time as an Extern for Hon. Judge Pamela Goodwine and for Child Advocacy Today. After graduation, she worked for the Legislative Research Commission as a committee analyst where she researched and drafted legislation focused on criminal and family law. She then worked for the Department of Public Advocacy, until she joined the Fayette County Attorney’s office in July of 2024.

Jade Morgan was born and raised in Knott County, Kentucky. She graduated from the University of Kentucky in 2014 with a B.A. in Gender & Women’s Studies. She attended the University of Kentucky College of Law, where she was a member of the Kentucky Law Journal, and graduated with her J.D. in 2017. After law school, she served as staff attorney to Fayette Circuit Family Court Judge Libby G. Messer. She joined the Fayette County Attorney’s Office in August, 2019 and serves in the Juvenile Division.

Eric Elliott serves as the Interim Director of the Fayette County Child Support Enforcement Office.  Eric graduated from Western Kentucky University in 1992 with a B.A. in Speech Communication and Government. Prior to joining the Child Support office as the Chief Strategy Officer in November 2023, Eric spent 27 years serving Kentucky’s legislators in the Legislative Research Commission in multiple roles.  His career in government started as the Communications Director for the Senate Minority Office, where he served two different leaders.  When an opening to move to non-partisan staff was presented, Eric jumped at the opportunity to work in the Constituent Services Office.  In 2007, he was selected to be the Staff Administrator for Constituent Services Office, where he modernized and helped design innovative computer programs to help track and monitor all requests from the public.  He became a national leader in constituent data, which allowed him to be a featured faculty speaker at the National Conference of State Legislatures multiple times. He finished his career in LRC receiving the Distinguished Service Award in 2019. Eric previously served as First Vice-President of the Northside Neighborhood Association, board member of the Friends of the Kentucky Theatre, and various community organizations.  He is an active member of the WKU Alumni Association and the Hilltopper Athletic Association.  He and his partner live in downtown Lexington.

Michael Dearing is a life-long resident of Lexington, Kentucky.  He is a graduate of Bryan Station High and Georgetown College. He received his J.D. from the University of Kentucky, College of Law in 1982.  Mike rejoined the Child Support Division in June, 2008, having previously worked for the Fayette County Attorney’s Office in the early 90’s.  In the interim, he was a member of the Lexington law firm of Wilson, Polites and McQueen, specializing in civil litigation. .

John Jones II grew up in Paintsville, Kentucky, and graduated from Georgetown College in 2006 with a B.A. in Political Science. He received his J.D. from the University of Kentucky, College of Law in May, 2009. John joined the Fayette County Attorney’s Office in January, 2010 in the Division of Child Support Enforcement. .

Jill Holtman Koenig grew up in Elsmere, Kentucky. She graduated from the University of Kentucky in 2007 with a B.A. in Communications. She completed the judicial clerkship course in Fayette Family Court while in her final semester of law school and received her J.D. from the University of Kentucky College of Law in May, 2010. Jill joined the Fayette County Attorney’s Office in May, 2013, in the Division of Child Support Enforcement.