DA John Roach Named the first Outstanding Alumnus, Distinguished Speaker

Auburn University at Montgomery School of Liberal Arts has selected Collin County DA John Roach its first Outstanding Alumnus. Roach is a 1971 graduate of Auburn at Montgomery with a B.A. in History.

Mr. Roach was also named a Distinguished Speaker and delivered an address to faculty students and guests of the School of Liberal Arts on April 20. A luncheon in his honor with Auburn Montgomery officials and invited guests was held at the Capital City Club before the induction ceremony and Mr. Roach’s speech. The day concluded with the presentation of a plaque and honors to Mr. Roach and a reception in his honor.

Twin Creeks Residents Decorate CAC Interview Room

Spotlight On Conviction:

Conviction: Death

Raul Cortez was convicted of Capital Murder and sentenced to death on February 2, 2009. The crime represented the worst mass murder in Collin County history and launched a three year police investigation which ended with Cortez’s arrest in 2007.

Cortez was accused of murdering Austin York, Matt Self, Mark Barbosa, and Rosa Barbosa during an armed invasion of Ms. Barbosa’s McKinney home on the evening of March 12, 2004. Testimony at trial showed that Cortez’s DNA was found on duct tape and pieces of latex gloves wrapped around Ms. Barbosa’s head. Police also recovered a bullet from Cortez’s home that matched bullets recovered from Austin York and Mark Barbosa.

The case was tried by First Assistant District Attorney, Greg Davis, and Assistant District Attorneys Michelle Voirin and Chris Milner.

Seelye Sentenced to 99 Years

William Lester Seelye was convicted of Theft of Property of the value of $200,000.00 or more, sentenced to 99 years in prison, and fined $10,000 by a Collin County jury on May 1, 2009. Mr. Seelye took in excess of $400,000.00 from investors in Collin County and elsewhere around the

United States

beginning in 2004 and continuing through 2007 with a series of fraudulent oil and gas deals. The case was investigated by the Texas State Securities Board (“TSSB”) and the Special Crimes Division of the Collin County District Attorney’s Office (“SCD”), and tried by TSSB Enforcement Attorney Dale R. Barron and SCD attorneys Kelly H. Crowson and Christopher L. Milner. Mr. Barron had earlier been appointed as an assistant district attorney by Collin County DA John Roach for the purpose of prosecuting the case against Mr. Seelye. Indictments for Securities Fraud and Money Laundering are still pending against Mr. Seelye in the 219^th Judicial District Court.

Life Sentence for Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child

John Creech was convicted of Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child, Indecency with a Child , and five counts of Possession of Child Pornography on April 20, 2009. The defendant was sentenced to life in prison on the Aggravated count and 20 years on the Indecency count, to be served consecutively with the Aggravated count. The defendant was also sentenced to 10 years on each count of Possession. The case was tried by Assistant District Attorneys Michelle Voirin and Crystal Levonius.

Two life sentences for Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child

Michael Hamilton was convicted of two counts of Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child on February 23, 2009. The defendant was sentenced to life in prison on each Aggravated count, with the second Life sentence to begin after he has completed the first Life sentence. Hamilton was also convicted of three counts of Indecency with a Child and sentenced to 20 years, 15 years, and 15 years. Furthermore, the defendant was sentenced to a $10,000 fine on each of the five counts. Hamilton was also in possession of extensive child pornography, which was admitted in the sentencing phase of the trial. The case was tried by Assistant District Attorneys Jo’Dee Neil and Michelle Voirin.

Employee Recognition: Michelle Voirin

Mrs. Michelle Voirin has been a prosecutor for 15 years and has been with the Collin County District Attorney’s Office since 1998. She previously spent three years as an attorney in private practice and was also a prosecutor for the Tarrant County District Attorney’s Office.

While at Collin County, Mrs. Voirin has served as a Chief Felony Prosecutor of a felony trial team, has worked in Juvenile Prosecution, and in the representation of Child Protective Services. She has prosecuted many types of felonies and misdemeanors, including capital murder cases in which the defendants received the death penalty.

She is the Chief Felony Prosecutor of the Crimes Against Children Division for Collin County, handling all types of child abuse cases from Grand Jury through jury trial. She also is board-certified in Criminal Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and serves on the Collin County Child Fatality Review Board and the Collin County Sexual Assault Response Team. She has frequently spoken at national, state, and local trainings regarding the investigation and prosecution of child abuse for prosecutors, investigators, forensic interviewers, law enforcement, medical professionals, and therapists, just to name a few.

Mrs. Voirin has been recognized twice by the Children’s Advocacy Centers of Texas in Austin for her work in the prosecution of child abuse. She has also been honored several times by the Collin County Children’s Advocacy Center, which named her as an Outstanding Team Member in 2007.

Did You Know?

The District Attorney's Office has been busy with the Internship and Volunteers In Prosecution programs. Our office has had over 30 interns and volunteers and the programs combined have accumulated 2,978 hours since June 2008.

Collin County DA and Prosecutors Awarded FBI’s Prestigious Award

Collin County District Attorney John Roach and Assistant District Attorneys John Schomburger and Justin Johnson were awarded the FBI Director's Community Leadership Award on February 20, 2009.

The FBI Director's Community Leadership Award began in 1990 and recognizes individuals and organizations for their efforts in combating violence, drugs, crime, and terrorism in America.

The FBI Director's Community Leadership Award Ceremony Group (Collin County DA)