Kristen Kemp - First Assistant
Kristen Kemp is the First Assistant for the Delaware County District Attorney’s Office. She joined the office in 2020 and oversees office operations while providing leadership on complex and high-profile prosecutions. She previously served as the Deputy of the Special Victims Unit and has extensive experience prosecuting cases involving child abuse, sexual violence, trafficking, and domestic violence homicides. She also spent ten years in the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office and two years in the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office in similar roles. She earned her Juris Doctor from Syracuse University College of Law.
Trial Division
Deputy District Attorney Shuaiyb Newton is assigned to the Trial Division of the Delaware County District Attorney’s Office. He supervises trial attorneys and leads homicide prosecutions and complex felony cases, providing charging decisions and investigative guidance while working closely with law enforcement, victims, and community partners. He previously served in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, investigating heroin trafficking and PPP fraud, and in the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office, including the Homicide Unit. He earned his Juris Doctor from Widener University School of Law and has more than a decade of experience in serious criminal litigation.
Division Summary:
The Trial Unit is responsible for presenting cases in court and ensuring justice is served through fair and effective prosecutions. Staffed by experienced Assistant District Attorneys, the unit handles a wide range of criminal cases. The ADA’s prepare and present cases, examine witnesses, and argue motions to ensure offenders are held accountable.
The Trial Unit is organized into structured teams for each of the criminal Judges. Each team consists of a Trial Team Leader Attorney, Trial Team Attorney and a Trial Team Secretary.
| Judges |
|---|
| Judge Amoroso |
| Judge Brennan |
| Judge Cappelli |
| Judge Green |
| Judge Kelly |
| Judge Klein |
| Judge Krull |
| Judge Pileggi |
District Court Arraignments
Deputy District Attorney Kristin Earthman is a graduate of Le Moyne College (2003) and the University at Buffalo School of Law (2006). She served for twelve years with the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office, where she worked in the Juvenile, Charging, and Major Trials Units and ultimately served as Chief of the South Bureau. She also has experience in private practice and with the Superior Court of Pennsylvania, where she handled criminal appellate matters. She joined the Delaware County District Attorney’s Office as a Deputy District Attorney in 2022.
Division Summary:
The District Court Arraignments team is responsible for managing the initial court appearances of individuals charged with criminal offenses. During arraignments, defendants are formally informed of the charges against them, bail is considered, and legal procedures are explained. The team works efficiently to ensure that cases move smoothly through the court system while upholding defendants’ rights and maintaining public safety.
District Court
Division Summary:
The District Court Unit handles cases at the Magisterial District Court level across Delaware County. With 30 Magisterial District Courts serving the county, the unit manages summary offenses, municipal ordinance violations, and oversees preliminary hearings and arraignments, ensuring that cases are processed efficiently and professionally from the outset.
Diversionary Unit
Deputy District Attorney Michael Hill earned his Juris Doctor from Delaware Law School of Widener University and his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Fordham University. He currently serves as Vice President of the Delaware County Bar Association and was the recipient of the Nicholas D. Vadino Memorial Award in 2015. He has served with the Delaware County District Attorney’s Office since 2010 and currently holds the position of Deputy District Attorney. During his tenure, he worked in multiple units such as the Pre-Trial, Juvenile, and Trial Divisions and previously served as a Trial Team Leader before the Honorable Judge Capuzzi. He has also served as a Supervising Attorney for the Second Chance Court Bail Program since its inception in 2017.
Division Summary:
The Diversion Program Unit identifies cases where offenders can be held accountable through structured, non-trial programs designed to prevent future involvement in the criminal justice system. Participants engage in court-supervised requirements such as community service, educational and therapeutic programming, and specialized treatment for substance abuse or mental health challenges. By providing alternatives to traditional prosecution, the unit helps reduce the long-term consequences for offenders, lowers recidivism, and allows prosecutorial and judicial resources to focus on more serious and violent crime. The Diversion Program Unit is committed to achieving just outcomes, protecting victims’ rights, and promoting efforts to repair harm to the affected communities.
Narcotics
Deputy District Attorney Laurie Moore is assigned to the Narcotics Unit for the Delaware County District Attorney’s Office. She has served as a prosecutor since 2009, previously working with the Philadelphia and Bucks County District Attorney’s Offices before joining Delaware County in 2020. She earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Notre Dame and her Juris Doctor from Georgetown University Law Center. She also holds a master’s degree in Epidemiology. She is a two-time second-place overall finisher in the Ben to the Shore Bike Ride as a member of the Delco 476ers.
Division Summary:
The Narcotics Unit investigates and prosecutes drug-related offenses across the county, targeting the distribution and trafficking of illegal substances that threaten public safety. Staffed by experienced detectives and prosecutors, the unit works closely with local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to conduct thorough investigations, execute search warrants, and build strong, evidence-based cases. The unit is dedicated to disrupting drug networks, holding offenders accountable, and reducing the impact of illegal drugs on communities throughout Delaware County.
Special Victims Unit
Deputy District Attorney Danielle Nispel is assigned to the Special Victims Unit of the Delaware County District Attorney’s Office. Prior to becoming a prosecutor, she served as a Victim/Witness Coordinator at the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office, assisting victims and witnesses in understanding their rights within the criminal justice system. She earned her undergraduate degree from American University and her Juris Doctor from Temple University Beasley School of Law. During her undergraduate studies, she worked with the Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network (RAINN) on the National Sexual Assault Hotline and the Department of Defense’s Safe Helpline. She also completed a year of AmeriCorps in Seattle, where she worked with elementary schools to provide after-school programming and community support for families.
Division Summary:
The Special Victims Unit investigates and prosecutes some of the most sensitive and challenging cases handled by the District Attorney’s Office. Dedicated Assistant District Attorneys (ADAs), along with investigators and advocates, work together to resolve these cases with discretion, professionalism, and compassion for victims. The unit understands that reporting intimate partner violence, child abuse, or sexual assault can be difficult. Its team works to make the process as safe and supportive as possible, providing services to victims and families affected by physical and sexual violence. Special Victims Unit ADAs also collaborate closely with outside agencies and service providers, ensuring victims and their families receive comprehensive support while holding offenders accountable and promoting the well-being of the entire family.
As part of their work, the unit also handles Protection From Abuse (PFA) cases, helping victims obtain timely court orders to stay safe from domestic violence, harassment, or stalking. ADAs guide victims through the process, represent them in court, and provide support while ensuring offenders are held accountable.
Gun Violence
Deputy District Attorney Matthew Krouse is assigned to the Gun Violence Task Force for the Delaware County District Attorney’s Office. He began his legal career as an intern in 2011 and previously served as an Assistant District Attorney with the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office from 2012 to 2020. He earned his undergraduate degree from Xavier University, where he studied Philosophy, Politics, and the Public with minors in History, English, and Entrepreneurship, and received his Juris Doctor from Indiana University.
Division Summary:
The Gun Violence Task Force is a collaborative team made up of the District Attorney, a Deputy District Attorney, an Assistant District Attorney, detectives from the Criminal Investigation Division, and officers from the Chester Police Department. Task Force members share intelligence and meet weekly to review shootings from the prior week, allowing for coordinated strategies to reduce gun violence in the community. In addition to its law enforcement efforts, the Task Force created the Chester Partnership for Safe Neighborhoods (CPSN). Staffed by a dedicated coordinator, CPSN helps individuals identified by the Task Force access critical resources such as counseling, housing, job training, or transportation. By addressing the needs of those most likely to be involved in gun violence, the Task Force works to interrupt the cycle of violence and build safer neighborhoods in Chester.
Special Investigations Unit
Deputy District Attorney Douglas Rhoads is the supervising attorney for the Delaware County Investigating Grand Jury program. He oversees investigations into fraud, public corruption, economic and white-collar crimes, police use-of-force cases, and labor-related matters, including Pennsylvania’s first criminal Act 72 Worker Misclassification case.
He also handles specialty prosecutions involving environmental and gaming cases.
Division Summary:
The Special Investigations Unit investigates and prosecutes complex cases involving white-collar crime, financial fraud, computer-related offenses, illegal gambling, public corruption, and other sophisticated criminal activity. Staffed by a dedicated team of prosecutors and investigators, the unit has successfully handled cases ranging from identity theft and embezzlement to worker misclassification. Within the Special Investigations Unit also there is the Environmental Crimes Unit, the only one of its kind in the Commonwealth. This specialized unit collaborates with the Department of Emergency Services, County Council, and other offices to investigate environmental hazards that threaten the health and safety of Delaware County residents. The unit also investigates crimes against senior citizens, handling these cases with care and professionalism to maintain victims’ dignity while ensuring offenders are held fully accountable.
Juvenile
Deputy District Attorney Katie Magee is assigned to the Juvenile Division of the Delaware County District Attorney’s Office. She has served with the office since 2003. She earned her undergraduate degree in Political Science from Saint Joseph’s University and her Juris Doctor from Widener University School of Law (now Delaware Law School). A lifelong Delaware County resident, she works closely with victims to ensure their voices are heard throughout the criminal justice process.
Division Summary:
The Juvenile Division handles cases involving offenders aged 17 and younger. Many of these cases also involve young victims, and staff members are specially trained to communicate effectively with children and support their families throughout the process. Because the juvenile justice system operates differently from the adult system, prosecutors in the division carefully balance punishment, deterrence, and rehabilitation to serve both the victim and the broader community. The division is committed to guiding young people toward accountability while fostering opportunities for growth and positive change.
Auto Theft/Insurance Fraud
Deputy District Attorney Geoff Paine is assigned to the Auto Theft and Insurance Fraud Unit for the Delaware County District Attorney’s Office. He began his career with the office as an intern in 1996, assisting on the John DuPont trial, and became an Assistant District Attorney in 1997. After five years of service, he returned to the office in 2012 and has been with the office since. He has handled over 100 homicide cases and oversees the Right-to-Know (RTK) and Cold Case units.
Division Summary:
The Auto Theft and Insurance Fraud Unit investigates and prosecutes crimes related to stolen vehicles, staged accidents, and fraudulent insurance claims. Staffed by experienced prosecutors and investigators, the unit works closely with law enforcement and insurance providers to uncover schemes, hold offenders accountable, and protect consumers. By targeting these crimes, the unit helps reduce financial losses, maintain the integrity of the insurance system, and safeguard the community from criminal exploitation.
Organized Crime
Deputy District Attorney Sophia Polities is assigned to the Organized Crime/Upper Darby Unit of the Delaware County District Attorney’s Office. She also serves on the Delaware County Narcotics Task Force, working with local, state, and federal law enforcement to investigate and dismantle drug trafficking organizations. She began her career as a prosecutor with the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office from 2010 to 2017, primarily in the Special Victims Unit. She joined the Delaware County District Attorney’s Office in 2020 and was recognized in 2024 with the Prosecution Award from HIDTA (High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area) for her work on a large-scale drug trafficking organization operating in Chester. She earned her undergraduate degree from Temple University and her Juris Doctor from Rutgers Law School–Camden.
Division Summary:
Appeals Unit
Deputy District Attorney Sara G. Vanore is assigned to the Law & Appeals Unit of the Delaware County District Attorney’s Office. She joined the office in 2022 and has served as head of the unit since 2025. She previously served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the District of Columbia from 2014 to 2022, handling trial and appellate cases and serving as Assistant Chief of the Special Proceedings Division. She began her legal career as a trial prosecutor with the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office from 2008 to 2014. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and Sociology from George Washington University and her law degree from George Washington University Law School. Prior to law school, she taught elementary school in New Orleans, Louisiana, through Teach for America.
Division Summary:
The Law and Appeals Unit works to uphold the integrity of criminal convictions in Delaware County. The team handles appeals that challenge judicial errors and help develop case law, manages complex pre-trial and post-conviction motions, and assists in drafting legislation. The unit also collaborates with attorneys across the office, providing guidance on questions of law, procedure, and precedent at every stage of a case from investigation through trial – ensuring consistency, accuracy, and fairness.
Extradition Unit
- The Extradition Unit is responsible for locating, apprehending, and returning individuals charged with crimes in Delaware County who have fled or are located outside the jurisdiction. Working closely with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, the unit ensures that these individuals are brought back promptly to face charges. By managing the complex legal and logistical processes involved in extradition, the unit helps uphold accountability, protect public safety, and ensure that justice is carried out efficiently.
Summary Appeals
- The Summary Appeals Unit handles appeals of summary offenses, ensuring that convictions at the Magisterial District Court level are reviewed fairly and accurately. The unit works to identify legal errors, clarify case law, and provide guidance on procedural matters, helping to maintain the integrity of the justice system. By carefully reviewing these cases, the unit protects the rights of both defendants and the community while supporting prosecutors in delivering consistent and equitable outcomes.
Pre-Trial Unit
- The Pre-Trial Unit manages all aspects of criminal arraignments, working closely with law enforcement, defense attorneys, and the public. The unit schedules and conducts video and in-person hearings, processes complaints and warrants, updates case information, and ensures that victims and officers are kept informed. By coordinating these critical pretrial functions, the unit supports an efficient justice process, upholds public safety, and helps ensure that cases move through the system fairly and effectively.
