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HOME >
DA's Office >
Staff |
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Staff |
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District Attorney Phil Cline leads a staff
of nearly two hundred dedicated individuals. Sixty two attorneys carry
out the core function of prosecution supported by 130 team members
composed of investigators, administrative assistants, victim service
specialists, support staff, witness coordinators, fiscal staff and interns. |
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Staff Recognition |
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2008 Prosecutor of
the Year ●
Prior Recipients |
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2008 Porterville Prosecutor of
the Year ●
Prior Recipients |
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2008 Prosecutor of the Year -
Nicholas Schuller |
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Nicholas Schuller was born in the Gulf of Mexico near Pensacola
Florida where his father was stationed as an officer in the
United States Navy. Shortly after his birth the family relocated
back to their home town in the windy city of Chicago. Nick, like
most boys growing up, was raised on a healthy dose of little
league baseball, BMX bikes, and watching cops and robbers shows.
Nicholas was also exposed to classical music early in life and
came from a musical family. Nicholas’ first instrument was the
cello |
which he remembers dragging through
the snow to school on those cold Chicago days. At the age of 13
the classical guitar became Nicholas’ instrument of choice.
His parents encouraged him to pursue his musical talents by
supporting his music studies prior to pursuing a career in law.
Nicholas auditioned, and was accepted to attend the prestigious
San Francisco Conservatory of Music. While at the Conservatory,
Nicholas studied with some of the finest classical musicians.
Nicholas has performed numerous recitals and competitions
winning 1st place at the Juan Serrano classical guitar
competition in 1993. Nicholas’ girlfriend and later to be wife,
Delilah, lived across the bay where she was attending University
of California Berkeley.
One day, Nick and his wife fled the Bay Area heading Southbound
on Route 99 and stopped in Fresno to attend San Joaquin College
of Law. During that time, Nick interned at the Madera County
District Attorney’s Office. Nick and Delilah won 1st Place Team
at the 1996 George Hooper Moot Court competition and Nick was
also awarded Best Oral Advocate. After graduating and passing
the bar Nick and Delilah fled on Southbound 99 again, this time
stopping in Visalia to work for the Tulare County DA’s Office in
1999. Nicholas has been with the office nearly a decade now
litigating hundreds of cases. He has litigated close to 50 jury
trials to verdict.
Within six months of being hired Nick was promoted to the Felony
Trial Team.
Next, Nick was assigned to the Major Narcotics Unit and Meth Lab
Unit. In this capacity, Nick prosecuted several large-scale drug
crimes.
In 2003 Nick was assigned to the Rape Unit.
In 2006 Nick was assigned to the Major Crimes/Homicide Unit,
where he remains to this day, prosecuting complex homicide
cases.
In 2006 Nick proceeded to trial on the case People v. Gerardo
Martinez. This was a case wherein the defendant stabbed his
father to death. The defendant entered a plea of Not Guilty by
reason of Insanity. The defendant was convicted of First Degree
Premeditated Murder and the case proceeded to the sanity stage.
The defendant was found sane and sentenced to 26 years to life.
In July of 2007 Nick prosecuted seventeen year old Norteno gang
member David Garcia as an adult. The defendant was found guilty
by jury of First Degree Special circumstance murder and three
counts of attempted murder and sentenced to Life in Prison
Without the Possibility of Parole.
In June of 2008 Nick prosecuted Sureno Gang member Juan Curiel
who was a driver in a drive by shooting which ended in the death
of seventeen year old Randall Shaw. The defendant was found
guilty of First Degree Special circumstance murder and four
counts of attempted murder and sentenced to Life in Prison
Without the Possibility of Parole.
In October of 2008 Nick proceeded to trial on the death penalty
case of People v. Samuel Rivera. The defendant a norteno gang
member committed a drive by shooting on a labor van filled with
fourteen innocent field workers, killing the rear passenger of
the van. The jury found the defendant guilty of 1st Degree
special circumstance murder and thirteen counts of premeditated
attempted murder. After the penalty stage was litigated, the
jury returned a verdict of Death.
Nick recently litigated the case of People v. Jose Delgadillo.
The case proceeded to trial on February 16th, 2009. After
approximately one month of pre-trial motions and jury selection
the defendant pled to the crimes as charged. The eleven felony
counts included: First Degree Murder with the special
circumstances of Gang Murder and Drive by Murder; Conspiracy to
Murder; four counts of premeditated attempted murder; five
counts of shooting from an occupied vehicle; along with several
firearm and gang special allegations. On April 16th, 2009 the
defendant was sentenced and received Life in Prison Without the
Possibility of Parole.
In April of 2009, Nick was promoted to the position of
Supervising District Attorney.
While not in the courtroom, Nicholas enjoys spending time at the
coast, painting, playing the classical guitar, spending time
with his wife and three beautiful girls, and rooting for the San
Francisco Giants. |
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Prior Recipients - Prosecutor of
the Year |
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| 2007 Todd Zocchi |
1998 Robert K. Dempsie |
| 2006 Daniel
Underwood |
1997 Kathryn Montejano |
| 2005 Kathy Montejano |
1996 Ellen O'Hara |
| 2004 Shani D. Engum |
1995 Don H. Gallian |
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2003 Amarik Singh |
1994 William Yoshimoto |
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2002 Ed Gil |
1993 Richard June |
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2001
Kimberly Smith |
1992 Carol Turner |
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2000 David L. Alavezos |
1991 Martin Malone |
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1999 Sharon Henry |
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