Daniel R. Lutz - Wayne County Prosecuting Attorney After graduating with honors from The Ohio State University College of Law in 1987, Dan served four years on active duty in the Judge Advocate General (aka JAG ) Corps of the U.S. Navy. Since leaving active duty in 1991, Dan has served as an Assistant Wayne County Public Defender, as an Assistant Wayne County Prosecutor, as the Orrville City Law Director, and as a partner at the law firm of Kropf, Wagner, Lutz, & VanSickle in Orrville. In January of 2011, Dan left his law firm, resigned as Orrville s Law Director, and accepted an appointment to become the Wayne County Prosecuting Attorney to complete the unexpired four-year term of his predecessor, Martin Frantz. In November 2012, Dan was elected to a four-year term commencing January 2013. Dan also served in the Reserve component of the U.S. Navy for over 25 years where he retired in 2013, holding the rank of Captain (O6). In his reserve career, he served in a number of capacities including serving as commanding officer of two Reserve Navy JAG units, and as a certified General Court-Martial Military Judge, with his last four years in the Navy Reserve sitting as an Appellate Judge on the Navy & Marine Corps Court of Criminal Appeals in Washington DC. CIVILIAN EMPLOYMENT EXPERIENCE: Wayne County Prosecuting Attorney, 115 W. Liberty Street, Wooster, Ohio 44691, January 2011 to present. County's chief criminal and civil representative in court; prosecutes criminal cases in the name of the State of Ohio. Represents all county elected officials, county boards, and the townships in Wayne County. Partner - Kropf, Wagner, Lutz, & VanSickle, LLP, 100 N. Vine Street, P.O. Box 67, Orrville, Ohio 44667, January 2000 to December 2010. General Practice with primary practice areas being criminal defense, civil litigation, family law, probate, real estate, and municipal law. Law Director, City of Orrville, September 2000 to December 2010. City s chief legal representative representing Orrville, its administration and council on civil matters relating to the City of Orrville Acting Judge, Wayne County, Ohio Municipal Court, August 2005 to December 2008. Associate Attorney - Kropf, Wagner & Hohenberger, 100 N. Vine Street, P.O. Box 67, Orrville, Ohio 44667, January 1996 to January 2000. General Practice with primary practice areas being criminal defense, family law and civil litigation. Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, Wayne County Prosecutor's Office, Wooster, Ohio, June 1994 to December 1995.
Criminal prosecution of persons charged with misdemeanor offenses; significant (almost daily) trial experience (both jury and bench trials); argued appeals before the Ninth District Court of Appeals and the Ohio Supreme Court. Assistant Public Defender, Wayne County Public Defender Office, Wooster, Ohio, December 1991 to June 1994. Criminal defense of indigent persons charged with felonies and/or misdemeanors (both jury and bench trials); defense of juveniles charged with delinquency or unruly complaints; significant motion practice; argued numerous appeals before the Ninth District Court of Appeals. MILITARY EMPLOYMENT EXPERIENCE: RESERVE DUTY: U.S. Navy Judge Advocate General s (JAG) Corps. Reserve component of the U.S. Navy, Judge Advocate General s (JAG) Corps - 1993 to 2013. Highest rank held: Captain (O6): NAVY-MARINE CORPS TRIAL JUDICIARY, Appellate Judge on the Navy Marine Corps Court of Criminal Appeals, Washington DC, December 1, 2009 to November 30, 2013. REGIONAL LEGAL SERVICE OFFICE MIDWEST (RLSO MW), Commanding Officer, December 1, 2008 to November 30, 2009. Reserve unit supports Regional Legal Service Office Great Lakes in prosecutorial and command advice duties and responsibilities. NAVY JAG 116 January 1, 2007, to November 30, 2008. Commanding Officer of unit from December1, 2007, to November 30, 2008. Reserve unit supports Office of Judge Advocate General, Appellate Government Division (Code 46) in Washington DC, whose mission is to represent the U.S. Navy before the military appellate courts. Unit won the prestigious RADM Hugh H. Howell, Jr. Award of Excellence in June 2008. CIVIL LAW SUPPORT ACTIVITY 206, October 1, 2003 to December 31, 2006. Litigation Counsel. Reserve unit supports Office of Judge Advocate General, General Litigation Division (Code 14) in Washington DC, whose primary mission is to defend the Navy against civil lawsuits. NAVAL PERSONNEL COMMAND 06 DET 106 October 1, 2000 to September 30, 2003. Executive Officer for Reserve unit that supports the Navy Bureau of Personnel in Washington, DC, and Naval Personnel Command in Millington, TN.
CIVIL LAW SUPPORT ACTIVITY 109 October 1, 1997 to September 30, 2000. Litigation Counsel. Reserve unit supports Office of Judge Advocate General, General Litigation Division (Code 14), in Washington DC. LEGAL FUNCTIONAL SUPPORT 109 October 1, 1993 to September 30, 1997. Executive Officer for Reserve unit that supported the Staff Judge Advocates for Naval Station s Norfolk, San Diego, and Pearl Harbor. PERSONNEL MOBILIZATION TEAM 705 January 1993 to September 30, 1993. Reserve unit s primary mission was to ensure the mobilization readiness of reserve sailors. ACTIVE DUTY: U.S. Navy Judge Advocate General's (JAG) Corps, Naval Legal Service Office, Newport, Rhode Island, April 1988 to September 1991. Duties included: Federal Tort Claims Attorney January 1991 to September 1991. Responsible for adjudicating all medical malpractice, personal injury and property damage claims filed against Navy Activities in the six New England states. Legal Assistance Attorney - March 1990 to January 1991. Provided legal advice to military members, dependents and retirees on matters such as civilian criminal matters, real estate, domestic relations, insurance, probate, landlord/tenant law, consumer affairs and tort liability. Drafted wills, civil pleadings and motions. Trial Counsel - July 1989 to March 1990. Prosecuted federal criminal cases arising in Rhode Island, Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire. Prosecuted cases at General and Special Courts Martial (both jury and bench trials). Defense Counsel - April 1988 to July 1989. Represented service members at General, Special and Summary Courts Martial (both jury and bench trials), as well as Administrative Discharge Hearings. Military Honors / Awards / Decorations: Two Meritorious Service Medals, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Medal; Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, Navy Reserve Medal, Expert Rifle Medal and Expert Pistol Medal. EDUCATION:
52d Military Judge Course, The Judge Advocate General s School, United States Army, Charlottesville, VA April 20, 2009 to May 8, 2009. Naval Justice School, Newport, RI - January 1988 to March 1988. Honors: Graduated with honors; Finalist in Moot Court Competition. Officer Indoctrination School, Newport, RI May 1986 to July 1986. Honors: Graduated with distinction. Ohio State University College of Law, Columbus, OH, Juris Doctor - 1987. Honors: Graduated with honors. Allegheny College, Meadville, PA; B.A. in History (Writing minor) - 1984. Honors: Graduated with honors; Distinction in History. COMMUNITY/CIVIC/PROFESSIONAL INVOLVEMENT: Past Service: Wayne County Child Advocacy Center Board member Wayne County Republican Party, Chairman Wayne County Bar Association Common Pleas Court Committee, Chairman Wayne County Bar Association Certified Grievance Committee, Chairman Wayne County Republican Party Central Committee, Vice Chairman Wayne County Budget Commission, Chairman Dunlap Community Hospital Board Secretary and Vice Chairman Kingsway Christian School Board President Kingsway Christian School Finance Committee Orrville-Dalton YMCA Board President Orrville Exchange Club President Main Street Orrville, Inc. Board President Orrville Exchange Club Board of Trustees Orrville Salvation Army Board of Trustees Wayne County Children Services Director s Advisory Board Deacon, Orrville Christian Church Elder, Orrville Christian Church
Speaker for Continuing Legal Education Courses in Wayne County and Akron Bar Associations University of Akron Wayne College Part-Time Faculty Member Current Service: Wayne County Child Advocacy Center Advisory Committee Wayne County Opiates Task Force Wayne County Domestic Violence Coalition Wayne County Republican Party Central Committee Wayne County Republican Party Executive Committee Wayne County Budget Commission Wayne County Records Commission Wayne County Community Improvement Corporation Board member Ohio Prosecuting Attorneys Association Executive Committee Ohio Prosecuting Attorneys Association Legislative Committee Ohio Prosecuting Attorneys Association Ethics Committee Assistant Scoutmaster, Boy Scouts of America Pregnancy Care Center of Wayne County Board member