New Cass County interim prosecutor addresses commissioners for first time

Cass County Interim Prosecuting Attorney Sarah Scoggin addressed county commissioners Thursday, offering an update on her first week leading an office that recently lost its entire team of prosecutors.

Speaking during the June 4 Cass County Board of Commissioners meeting, Scoggin thanked county employees, court officials, law enforcement agencies, prosecutor’s office staff and community members for helping her transition into the role.

“It is a little overwhelming to be one person that is taking over what six people usually do. That is a lot, but the first week is going pretty well,” Scoggin said. “I do want to say that I really appreciate everybody in the county who has been just so supportive. I’ve had so many people offer just whatever they can.”

Scoggin said the support has extended beyond county government and the courthouse.

“That’s not only people at the courthouse or here at the historic building, that’s also people that I’ve run into at the gas station, so I want to definitely give some shoutouts to Cass County there as a whole,” Scoggin said. “You have special people in other counties too, but that’s the exception to the rule. Here in Cass County, my experience is that special people and helpful people are everywhere.”

Scoggin was appointed interim prosecuting attorney May 28 by Cass County Circuit Court Judge Mark A. Herman following the resignation of former Prosecutor Victor Fitz, and the departure of the office’s assistant prosecutors.

The appointment came amid an unprecedented transition for the prosecutor’s office after Fitz announced he was leaving for a position with the Branch County Prosecutor’s Office. The resignations followed months of public disagreement between prosecutors and county commissioners over attorney retention, compensation, and staffing concerns.

Watershed Voice previously reported Fitz and several assistant prosecutors repeatedly warned commissioners that the office was struggling to retain attorneys in a competitive legal job market. Prosecutors argued the county lacked the flexibility needed to offer competitive compensation and prevent attorneys from leaving for neighboring counties and private practice.

County officials disputed claims that the county failed to support the office, pointing to retention increases, on-call stipends, additional staffing positions, technology improvements, office modifications and compensation adjustments approved in recent years.

According to the county, the prosecutor’s office consists of six attorney positions, including the elected prosecutor, one chief assistant prosecutor and four assistant prosecutors. The office also includes seven support staff positions and one operations manager position.

Scoggin, a longtime Cass County attorney, is serving in an interim capacity while Judge Herman completes the process of appointing a prosecutor to serve the remainder of Fitz’s term, which runs through 2028. The prosecutor position has been posted since May 14, while assistant prosecutor positions have been advertised since April 28.

Maxwell Knauer is a staff writer for Watershed Voice.