Riverside district attorney’s office honors standout employees

Elan Zektser, who completed five trials resulting in life prison sentences last year, was named the 2017 Countywide Prosecutor of the Year at the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office PRIDE Awards ceremony.

“The core values of this office include integrity, quality, teamwork, and service,” District Attorney Mike Hestrin said at the Feb. 23 awards banquet held at Wilson Creek Winery & Vineyards in Temecula Valley.

“The people we recognize with these awards truly embody those core values in the extraordinary work they do to ensure that justice is done in our county every day,” said Hestrin.

He also handed out the Countywide Lifetime Achievement Award to Elise Farrell, who retired in December after 30 years with the office, having built a statewide reputation as a consumer fraud expert, trainer and resource for other district attorney’s offices and other agencies.

In addition to his hard work and prosecuting talent, Zektser was honored for his extra efforts in mentoring younger attorneys.

“He leads by example and his productivity helps push other attorneys to achieve more,” said his award nomination.

Farrell was lauded for her ability to attain excellent results while working under extreme circumstances and credited with single-handedly bringing the Consumer Fraud Unit “back to life.”

“She goes out of her way to answer every email, text, or phone call from anyone who needs the benefit of her expertise,” according to her award nomination.

Other honors included: Countywide Misdemeanor Prosecutors of the Year, Brian Ferguson and Sterling Winchester; Countywide Special Prosecutions Section Prosecutors of the Year, Matt Murray and Erika Mulhere; and Countywide Special Prosecutions Section Award of the Year, Dave Jones and Matt Borden.

The banquet and PRIDE awards, an acronym for the Program Rewarding Incentive of District Attorney Employees, was entirely covered by money raised through fundraisers held within the office.