Our Mission
The
mission of the Seneca County Prosecuting
Attorney is to seek justice
for victims of crime, pursue punishment
and rehabilitation of persons who
violate our criminal laws, and advocate
for the protection of families and
safer communities for all citizens
of Seneca County. The Prosecuting
Attorney also provides essential
legal advice and counsel to public
officials in county and township
government concerning matters connected
with their official duties.
Further, the Prosecuting
Attorney endeavors to improve public
understanding of our criminal justice
system, thereby strengthening the rule
of law through information and education.
When permitted by law and ethics, the
Prosecuting Attorney, assistant prosecutors,
prosecutor staff, and victim advocates
will communicate with the public about
various cases and issues in criminal
justice, including the impact of crime
in our local communities. This web
site has been created to inform citizens
about the duties of the Seneca County
Prosecuting Attorney, increase awareness
about crime and victims rights, and
to educate people about our local criminal
justice system. |
Ken Egbert, Jr.
Seneca County
Prosecuting Attorney |
 We Work For The People
Seneca County, located in Northwest Ohio, has
a land area which totals 550 square miles,
a population of more than 58,000 citizens,
and the City of Tiffin as its county seat.
There are fifteen townships, two cities, and
six villages within the county. Established
as an Ohio county in 1824 and named for the
Seneca Native American Tribe, agriculture historically
has provided a major source of income to the
people who live and work in Seneca County.
The two major cities, Tiffin and Fostoria,
have numerous commercial and industrial businesses
which employ residents from Seneca County and
the surrounding area.
As a law enforcement officer and the county’s chief attorney, the Seneca County Prosecuting Attorney, the same as county prosecutors in the 87 other counties in Ohio, is the only elected prosecutor within the county and oversees five Assistant Prosecuting Attorneys, five victim advocates, and support personnel divided into three divisions: Felony Crimes, Civil Litigation, and Juvenile Delinquencies.
The Prosecuting Attorney and assistant prosecutors assigned to felony and juvenile cases represent The People of the State of Ohio in three different trial courtrooms which constitute the Seneca County Common Pleas Court for the prosecution of all adult felony crimes and juveniles charged with both felony and misdemeanor delinquent acts committed in Seneca County.
Ten different local law enforcement
agencies investigate and submit felony and
juvenile criminal cases to the Seneca County
Prosecuting Attorney for review and filing
at Juvenile Court or presentment for charges
through the Grand Jury. Felony crimes are
serious criminal offenses under Ohio law, meaning
the penalty for a person convicted of committing
a felony offense may result in prison time.
Adult misdemeanor crimes committed in the county,
however, are handled through separate municipal
prosecutor offices at Tiffin Municipal Court
and at Fostoria Municipal Court, which are
not affiliated with the county prosecutor’s
office and the offenses involve lesser criminal
penalties of local jail time and financial
sanctions.
 The Civil Litigation division of the Seneca County Prosecutor’s Office provides legal representation to all Seneca County and all township officeholders and nearly all county agencies along with filing lawsuits to abate health nuisances on properties and to collect delinquent property taxes. As statutory legal advisor, the Seneca County Prosecuting Attorney represents eleven county elected officials, eighteen different county boards, commissions, or agencies; fifteen boards of township trustees and their fiscal officers; seven township zoning commissions, boards of zoning appeals, and their zoning inspectors; nine county school boards; seven public libraries; two joint fire districts; one joint ambulance district; along with several other public entities. Occasionally, additional legal counsel or a legal advisor in lieu of the prosecuting attorney, may be employed to represent the Board of County Commissioners, other county officials, a township entity, or other statutory clients as provided under Ohio law and rules of legal ethics as noted in the "Office Duties" page of this website.
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