District Attorney Staff

First Assistant District Attorney

Mark Brunner - First Assistant District Attorney

First Assistant District Attorney Mark Brunner returned to the Williamson County District Attorney’s Office in 2013. From 1998 until 2005, he had previously worked at an Assistant District Attorney in Polk County and then Williamson County. From 2005 until 2012, Mark was a criminal defense attorney based in Georgetown, Texas who represented clients throughout Central Texas.

Born and raised in Houston, Mark graduated from Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas with a B.A. in Psychology before earning his J.D. degree from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas.

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Appellate Prosecutor

Deni Garcia - Assistant District Attorney / Appellate Division

Deni Garcia is the assistant district attorney assigned to handle post-conviction matters, including appeals and writs of habeas corpus.

Ms. Garcia came to Williamson County from the Office of the Attorney General where she most recently spent five years in the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit prosecuting white-collar Medicaid fraud and nursing home abuse cases throughout Texas. Prior to that she spent seven years as an Honors Attorney in the Post-conviction Litigation Division defending the validity of Texas capital murder convictions in federal court. She has argued many cases at the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, has many published opinions, and has sat second chair at the United States Supreme Court. Ms. Garcia obtained her undergraduate degree in Finance from Angelo State University. She graduated first in her class at Texas Wesleyan University School of Law where she is beginning her sixth year as an adjunct professor teaching a rotation of Death Penalty and Jurisprudence seminars.

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Financial Crimes Prosecutor / Civl Litigator

Brent Webster - Financial Crimes Prosecutor / Civl Litigator

Brent Webster is an assistant district attorney assigned to financial crimes and civil litigtion for the District Attorney's Office. His duties includes litigation of asset forfeitures, bail bond forfeitures, open records requests, expunction petitions, requests for nondisclosure orders, extraditions and responding to civil subpoenas. He also prosecutes cases involving financial crimes.

Brent graduated from Southwestern University in 2003 and earned a J.D. from University of Houston Law Center in 2005. Mr. Webster joined the DA's office in 2011. He previously served as an assistant county attorney in Williamson County.

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26th District Court

Trial Prosecutor: Lauren McLeod, Assistant District Attorney

Lauren McLeod currently serves as an Assistant District Attorney in Williamson County, handling felony cases at the intake, grand jury, negotiation and jury trial levels. Before coming to Williamson County, she was an Assistant District Attorney in McLennan County, Texas for five years. Ms. McLeod graduated from the University of New Mexico with a B.A. in History in 2004, and earned a law degree from Baylor Law School in 2007.

Trial Prosecutor: Sunday Austin, Assistant District Attorney

Sunday Austin is an Assistant District Attorney for Williamson County currently serving in the 26th District Court of Texas. Sunday was appointed to her current position in January 2013. Prior to moving to central Texas, Sunday served as an Assistant District Attorney for Randall County, Texas, serving the Amarillo and Canyon Area. She was assigned to handle cases in the 47^th, 181^st, 251^st District Courts of Texas. She relocated to the Austin area in 2009 where she served as a criminal defense attorney primarily in Travis County until she joined Williamson County. Sunday received her bachelors in political science from the University of Texas of the Permian Basin in 1995, her masters in political science from West Texas A&M University in 2000, and her law degree from Texas Tech University in 2002.

Trial Prosecutor: Geoffrey Puryear, Assistant District Attorney

Geoffrey Puryear is an Assistant District Attorney for Williamson County currently serving in the 26th District Court of Texas. Geoffrey was appointed to his current position by Jana Duty on February 6, 2013. Geoffrey began his career serving Williamson County as an Assistant County Attorney for 3 years. Then, prior to joining the Williamson County District Attorney’s Office, Geoffrey was an Assistant District Attorney for the Travis County District Attorney’s Office. He served in Travis County for two years, where he was assigned to the 167th District Court of Texas.

Geoffrey received his Bachelor of Science from Texas State University in 2004 and his Juris Doctor in 2007 from Texas Tech University School of Law.

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277th District Court

Trial Prosecutor: Stacey Mathews, Assistant District Attorney

Stacey Mathews currently serves as an Assistant District Attorney in Williamson County handling felony cases at the intake, grand jury, negotiation and jury trial levels. In addition, she provides training for local law enforcement and serves as a member of the Child Protective Team through the Children’s Advocacy Center. She graduated from University of Northern Colorado and was a teacher for 7 years prior to earning her J.D. from University of Houston Law Center in 2004. Ms. Mathews previously served as an assistant district attorney in Harris County.

Ms. Mathews was board certified in criminal law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in 2012.

Trial Prosecutor: Elizabeth Fifield, Assistant District Attorney

Elizabeth Fifield currently serves as an Assistant District Attorney in Williamson County assigned to the 277^th District Court. Elizabeth is responsible for evaluating felony cases presented by law enforcement and filing charges. She also interviews victims and witnesses, negotiates and resolves felony cases, and represents the State of Texas in felony trials.

Before joining the Williamson County District Attorney’s Office in 2011, Elizabeth served as an Assistant District Attorney in Harris County for 4 years. She graduated from The University of Texas in 2004 and earned a law degree from South Texas College of Law in 2007.

Trial Prosecutor: Jackie Borcherding, Assistant District Attorney

Jackie Borcherding serves as an Assistant District Attorney in Williamson County. Before becoming an ADA, she prosecuted in the Williamson County Attorney’s Office for six years, during which she served as Chief Prosecutor in County Courts at Law #2 and #3, DWI/Drug Court prosecutor, and a Juvenile Prosecutor in the 395^th District Court; and created the Domestic Assault Response Team. She graduated from Rice University with a B.A. in English, and she earned her J.D. degree from Baylor Law School. Before prosecuting, she clerked for Presiding Judge Sharon Keller of the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals. She was the first prosecutor inaugurated into Williamson County Victims’ Advocates Wall of Fame. In 2012, she was awarded Williamson County’s Young Lawyer of the Year.

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368th Court

Trial Prosecutor: Travis McDonald, Assistant District Attorney

Travis McDonald is an assistant district attorney assigned to screen new cases in the 368th District Court and work with local law enforcement drafting search and arrest warrants. He graduated from Texas Tech University in 1976 and earned a J.D. from University of Houston in 1983. He was board certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in 1990.

Mr. McDonald joined the DA's office in 1996. He previously served as an assistant district attorney in Waller County.

Trial Prosecutor: Lytza Rojas, Assistant District Attorney

Lytza Rojas is an assistant district attorney assigned to prosecute felony cases in the 368th District Court. Lytza is responsible for evaluating felony cases presented by law enforcement and filing charges. She negotiates and resolves felony cases, and represents the State of Texas in felony trials.

She graduated from Texas A & M University in 2001 and earned a J.D. from Texas Tech University School of Law in 2003.Ms. Rojas joined the DA's office in 2011. She previously served as an assistant district attorney in Dallas and McLennan Counties.

Lytza was board certified in criminal law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in 2012.

Trial Prosecutor: Josh Reno, Assistant District Attorney

Josh Reno is an Assistant District Attorney for Williamson County currently serving in the 368^th District Court of Texas. Josh was appointed to his current position by Jana Duty on January 2, 2013. Before, Josh was an Assistant District Attorney for the Lubbock County Criminal District Attorney’s Office. He served in Lubbock for eight years, where he was assigned the Chief Prosecutor of the 140^th and 364^th District Courts of Texas. He was named as the recipient of the Susan Scolaro Prosecutor of the Year in 2010. Josh received his Bachelor of Arts from Texas Tech University in 2001 and his Juris Doctor in 2004 from Texas Tech University School of Law.

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Victims Assistance Unit

The Williamson County District Attorney's Office places the rights of crime victims at the forefront. The District Attorney and her staff will do everything within their power to ensure that victims have a voice in the courtroom and see that justice is done.

The Victim Assistance Coordinators for the Williamson County District Attorney’s Office ensures that a victim, guardian of a victim, or close relative of a deceased victim is afforded the rights granted to them by Chapter 56 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. Our Victim Assistance Division works closely with appropriate law enforcement agencies, prosecuting attorneys and the Board of Pardons and Paroles in carrying out those duties.

Gayla Schwab - Victim Witness Coordinator

Alma Vasquez - Victim Witness Coordinator

Megan Higginbotham - Victim/Witness Assistant

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Investigators

Chief Investigator

Sergeant Investigator

Sergeant Investigator

Sergeant Investigator

Sergeant Investigator

Howell Williams

Carl Leihardt

Steve Allison

Randy Traylor

Royger Harris

512-943-1244

512-943-1243

512-943-1240

512-943-3508

512-943-1235

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