New Assistant Prosecutor learning the ropes

by Jazz Clark
Stanley Mortenson is finding his place at the Morgan County court house as the new assistant prosecutor.

Mortenson has been busy in court every day since being hired on January 7 at a special meeting of the Morgan County Commissioners.

Mortenson works with established prosecutor Debra McLaughlin.

“With her, I learn something new every day,” Mortenson said. “She’s a very knowledgeable resource to us all and runs a good, clean office.”

Criminal justice has always interested him.

“Every crime is different. Two people can commit the same crime different ways, and I like to find a resolution best for both the community and client,” Mortenson said.

Born in California, Mortenson has spent most of his life in the Baltimore area. He comes from a family of police officers and his father works for the FBI.

He spent his freshman year at West Virginia University before his family moved to Idaho. He then received his four-year degree in criminal justice studies from Lewis-Clark State College there.

After spending eight years as a sheriff’s deputy and working with lawyers in Idaho, he decided on a career as a prosecutor and used law school as an excuse to move back to the East Coast.

Upon finishing law school at WVU Parkersburg, he taught criminal justice as an assistant professor until coming here to pursue field work.

“I’ve always been waiting for a chance to return near where I grew up. We were just waiting for the right job to open up,” Mortenson said.

A family man with six kids, he likes watching baseball and football as well as action sports like rock climbing.

What he does to protect the people of this county is to protect his own family as well, since they are now members of this community, said Mortenson.