FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – April 12, 2016

State Attorney Phil Archer Names Top Prosecutor, Victim Advocates,

And Law Enforcement During Annual Victims’ Rights Event

State Attorney Phil Archer honored the victims of crime and renewed the vow of the law enforcement community to “Serve Victims, Build Trust, and Restore Hope” as their cases travel through the criminal justice system by naming leaders in the effort in Brevard County.

Top honors went to Brevard Sheriff’s Office Agent Cyndi Young for leading a years long effort to improve the investigation of defendants accused of strangulation, particularly in Domestic Violence cases. Young has been a vibrant voice in the education and investigation of these cases which can have a lasting and cumulative physical effect on victims. The honor follows her instituting a local study of the crime, additional training for officers, and continuing personal interface with the victims.

State Attorney’s Office Victim Advocate Lisa Mister-DeAnda was selected as the Advocate of the Year for 2016 based on years of service to not only the victims she works with in Brevard, but her history of serving the state and the nation through the Crisis Response network. Lisa is the organizer for the annual Survivors of Homicide Memorial held at the beginning of the holiday season, a time period which can be extra depressing for those who have suddenly and violently lost a loved one. The timing of the memorial provides an opportunity to acknowledge their losses and sorrow, and then hopefully still see the joy in the season.

The Norman R. Wolfinger Attorney of the Year award went to Assistant State Attorney Jennifer Denick, a main stay in the Early Resolution Program. Archer commended Denick for always listening to the victims of the crimes which are usually property or economic in nature and working diligently to try to guarantee their wishes are included in the pleas taking in the special division.

Recognition went to the Rockledge Police Department’s Victim Advocate and Criminal Analyst multitasking expert on a number of fronts, Jennifer LeVassuer, for Outstanding Service to Victims by an outside agency and the SAO’s Wanda Heffner, who manages the entire Sex Crimes and Child Abuse division for the state. The Victim Advocate of the Year from an outside agency was Jacqueline Ares from The Women’s Center in Melbourne where she is a one-woman rescue team.

Archer commended the winners and urged the crowd of 100 plus attendees at the Front Street Civic Center in Melbourne to rededicate themselves to working for the victims of crime.

Pictured left to right are: Brevard Sheriff’s Office Agent Cyndi Young; Wanda Heffner, State Attorney’s Office; Assistant State Attorney Jennifer Denick; State Attorney Phil Archer; Rockledge Police Department Victim Advocate and Criminal Analyst Jennifer LeVasseur; and Jacqueline Ares, The Women’s Center, Melbourne.