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Grand Jury Division
The Grand Jury Division is responsible for the preparation and presentation of all felony cases to the grand jury. The Division works closely with the district courts as each new grand jury is impaneled and provides an orientation program for each grand jury.
Collin County has two grand juries that serve six-month terms and together hear more than 3,000 cases per year. The grand jurors meet in secrecy and hear evidence regarding felony criminal offenses. The grand jurors must make a determination of probable cause that the person accused committed the offense alleged. If nine grand jurors believe that an indictment should be returned, they vote for a true bill of indictment, and at this point the criminal prosecution commences. If fewer than nine grand jurors concur in the finding of probable cause, the grand jurors return a no true bill of indictment (a “no bill”) and there is no further criminal prosecution on the matter.
The Grand Jury Division is responsible for the scheduling of cases, the summoning of witnesses to testify before the grand jury, and the questioning of witnesses before the grand jury. This division prepares the indictments for presentation to the grand jury. At the conclusion of each session, an official grand jury report is prepared by a Grand Jury Secretary to reflect the actions taken by the grand jury on that day. The Grand Jury Secretary is an employee of the DA’s office.
The Grand Jury Division is responsible for preparing the subpoenas the grand jury will issue commanding the presence of witnesses or requiring the production of documents and other material for use in grand jury investigations. The Grand Jury attorney is available to all law enforcement agencies in the investigative stage of a criminal case to provide legal assistance.
The Grand Jury Division is composed of a Chief Felony Prosecutor, a Felony Prosecutor, three Grand Jury Secretaries, and the combined resources of the District Attorney Investigative staff and Intake staff.
Doris Berry, the Chief of Intake division, completed her undergraduate education at Texas Woman’s University in Denton and received her law degree from Southern Methodist University in Dallas. She has been employed by the Collin County District Attorney’s Office since 1972 with the exception of the three years she attended law school. She has been a chief misdemeanor and chief felony prosecutor in the trial divisions, as well as chief felony prosecutor in the Grand Jury and Family Justice Division. Ms. Berry is currently the Chief Prosecutor over the Intake Division. Her duties include the following: supervising the attorneys reviewing misdemeanor and felony cases that are filed with the office, as well as supervising the Hot Check Division and the supervising attorney over the support staff. Doris Berry - Ext. 4333; dberry@co.collin.tx.us |
Paul Anfosso received his Bachelor of Arts degree with honors from the University of Texas and has a law degree from South Texas College of Law. Before practicing law, he taught high school history for several years. Since joining the Collin County District Attorney's Office in 1997, Mr. Anfosso has worked in both the misdemeanor and felony courts. He was assigned to the felony courts in December 1999 and joined the present trial team in August 2004.
Judy Neil
Gail (Falco) Leyko graduated from Texas A&M in 1990 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science. She received her law degree from Baylor University in 1993. Mrs. Leyko started her career with the Collin County District Attorney’s Office in 1993 and has served as Chief Prosecutor of the 199th District Court, 296th District Court, 380th District Court and Chief of the Intake Division.
Grand Jury Secretaries include:
Pat Acosta is a 19 year employee with the Collin County District Attorney’s Office and is a Board Certified Legal Assistant in Criminal Law with the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.
Tracy Hughes, a 20-year employee.
Tracie Tidwell, an 8-year employee.
Rae Ann Thornhill has been employed with the Collin County District Attorneys’ Office since March 2, 1981. She began her career with the Office as a Receptionist and now holds the position of Grand Jury Secretary.
All four secretaries had prior experience in the felony courts before being assigned to the Grand Jury Division.
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