C. David Waren, Prosecuting Attorney

The intensity to prosecute criminals;
The compassion to represent victims;
The sense to know the difference!
 
Dave has served as the Athens County Prosecutor since January 2001. He began his work in the Democratic party as a teenager. While working in his parents, Charles and Ruth's Dairy Queen in Nelsonville he worked as a volunteer in the campaign of James Edwards, father of Joe Edwards, in his campaign for Athens County Commissioner in the 1960s. He has been a dedicated Democrat ever since.

Dave is a 1971 graduate of Nelsonville-York high school, a 1977 graduate of Ohio University and a 1980 graduate of Ohio Northern University Petit College of Law.

While in high school he met and eventually married his high school sweetheart, Cheryl Stufflebeam, daughter of Frank and Joyce Stufflebeam late of Carbon Hill, in 1970. Dave and Cheryl will celebrate their 30th anniversary in June. They have three sons, David, Chris and Jason, two daughters-in-law, Cathy and Donita, and two granddaughters, Alexandrea and Katie. Dave, Cheryl and Jason live in Albany where they have made their home since 1981.

Upon graduating law school Dave opened a private practice in Albany in 1980. Almost immediately he began his career as a prosecutor when he was hired by then Nelsonville Law Director Michael Nolan as Nelsonville City Prosecutor. Dave held this part-time position until 1992 when he became Nelsonville Law Director upon the death of his longtime friend and teacher, James Shumaker.
Dave enjoyed being a prosecutor and in 1982 was hired by now Judge Michael Ward as Assistant Athens County Prosecuting Attorney, a position he held until August of 1990. While serving as Assistant County Prosecutor Dave had the honor of serving from time to time as Village Solicitor and occasionally Special Prosecutor for each Village in Athens County as well as Morgan and Vinton Counties.

In 1991 Dave was chosen by Judge Roger Jones to serve as the Magistrate of Athens County Juvenile Court to fill the vacancy created by the election of Judge Pete Abele to the Fourth District Court of Appeals. Later in 1991 Judge William Lavelle appointed Dave as Magistrate. Judge Edward Robe continued this appointment until Dave resigned to run for County Prosecutor on January 3, 2000.

Dave has a long history of community involvement with area youth. He has held the President s position in the Athens County Little League Baseball and Secretary of the Athens Football Officials Association. He has received awards and recognition from the Ohio High School Athletic Association. Not only has Dave been the past legal advisor for the Alexander Mock Trial team he has also been a presiding judge at the local level and a judge for the state wide competition. He continues to lecture to high school students about their responsibility citizens of their community. Dave has also served as president of the Athens County Bar Association and a trustee for the Ohio Association of Magistrates. During his long career of public service Dave has had the opportunity to prosecute and decide a wide variety of legal disputes. He has also seen first hand the responsibility that a prosecutor has toward the community.

Dave coordinates the efforts of Athens County Children s Services, Tri-County Mental Health, My Sisters Place and other support agencies in the prosecution of sex offenses. He has established Assistant Prosecutors assigned on 24 hour a day call to each law enforcement agency in Athens County as well as conducts seminars with officers regarding legal issues. Dave quickly responds to questions submitted by local elected officials. He meets with local civic organizations and chambers of commerce to discuss crime prevention and prosecution.

Contact Dave by writing to:
County Prosecutors Office, 740-592-3208