Major Crimes
The attorneys in the Major Crimes Unit represent over fifty years of combined prosecution & trial experience. This unit prosecutes homicides, serious assaults, vehicular assaults, dangerous and career criminals, home invasions, robberies, and dangerous drug offenses. The Major Crimes Unit attorneys are:
Russell Dempsey - First Assistant Prosecuting Attorney
Russell returned to the Greene County Prosecutor's Office in January 2005 after working for the City of Branson's law departments for two years. He received his undergraduate degree in 1999 from Central Missouri State University with a major in Criminal Justice and a minor in Psychology. Russell received his Juris Doctorate from Washburn University School of Law where he graduated with Dean's Honors. Upon graduation from law school in 2002, Russell began working for the Greene County Prosecutor's Office. While in the Prosecutor's Office, Russell has been a member of the Traffic Unit (now General Crimes), the Person's Unit, and the Major Crimes Unit. Russell has extensive training and jury trial experience in the prosecution of violent crimes. In January of 2011, he was promoted to be the First Assistant of the Major Crime Unit.
In additional to his official duties, Russell is an instructor at the Springfield Police Academy as a POST certified instructor. Russell is currently a member of the Task Force on Gangs and Youth Violence and a former member of the Child Fatality Review Board.
Jerry Hathaway - Senior Assistant Prosecuting Attorney
Jerry joined the Greene County Prosecutor's office in January, 2011. Jerry received his undergraduate degree in Education from the University of Missouri - Kansas City in 1984. Before entering law school, Jerry worked as a high school teacher and coach in Leavenworth, Kansas. In 1993, Jerry received his Juris Doctorate from Washburn University School of Law. Jerry has almost twenty years of prosecution experience in Kansas working as an Assistant Attorney General, Assistant County Attorney, and eventually as the elected Allen County Attorney and Woodson County Attorney. He has prosecuted a variety of crimes from traffic offenses to rape and first degree murder. Additionally, Jerry has successfully argued before the Kansas Supreme Court and the Kansas Court of Appeals.
Kristen M. Tuohy - Senior Assistant Prosecuting Attorney
Kristen joined the Greene County Prosecutor's Office in January of 2008. Kristen received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from University of Missouri in 1999. She received her Juris Doctorate from the University of Missouri School of Law in 2003. Upon graduation, Kristen worked as an Assistant Public Defender. In 2006, Kristen began working as a prosecutor. She initially worked as an assistant prosecutor in Newton County and then as an Assistant Attorney General. When she began working as an Assistant Greene County Prosecutor, she was a member of the General Crimes Unit. In 2010, she was assigned to the Major Crimes Unit and was later promoted to Senior Assistant. Kristen has prosecuted a variety of offenses and currently specializes in serious drug offenses.
Emily Carlstrom - Senior Assistant Prosecuting Attorney
Emily joined the Greene County Prosecutor's Office in August 2007. In 2004, Emily graduated with honors from Drury University with degrees in Advertising and Public Relations. Emily received her Juris Doctorate from the University of Missouri in 2007. In law school, she was a member of the school's first-place trial practice team, and was selected as the recipient of the 2007 Hunvald Student Prize for Excellence in Criminal Justice. Emily first worked for the Greene County Prosecutor's Office as a Rule 13 intern while in law school. Since joining the office as an attorney, she has worked in the General Crimes Unit, the Warrant Unit, and the Persons Unit. Emily has prosecuted a variety of criminal offenses and specializes in cases involving drunk drivers who have injured or killed someone.
In addition to her official duties, Emily instructs law enforcement on driving while intoxicated law and courtroom testimony.
Clayton Ballard - Assistant Prosecuting Attorney
Clayton joined the Greene County Prosecutor's Office in August of 2008. He received his undergraduate degree from Missouri Southern State University, in Joplin, Missouri, majoring in Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement in 2004. Clayton received his Juris Doctorate from the University of Missouri School of Law in May of 2008. While in law school, Clayton was the Associate Managing Editor of the Journal of Dispute Resolution. Clayton initially worked in the General Crimes Unit. In the fall of 2010, Clayton was assigned to the Major Crimes Unit to handle felony drug possession cases and the specialty courts.
