After 37 Years In District Attorney Office - Doug Valeska Retires

Rickey Stokes

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Posted by: RStokes
Date: Jan 14 2017 11:19 AM

HOUSTON - HENRY COUNTY AL:    On Friday a host of family, friends, law enforcement officers and members of the legal community gathered for the retirement celebration of Douglas Albert Valeska.

Doug Valeska served seven years as a District Attorney under Tom Sorrells. When Sorrells left to seek the Office of Attorney General Valeska ran unopposed as District Attorney.

He served 30 years as District Attorney for Henry and Houston County. He did not seek re-election. Pat Jones was elected as District Attorney and will take office art 12:01 AM on Tuesday.

Valeska was a hard nosed prosecutor. Knowing him since he took office, a stint in raising pigs once and playing tennis have been the only hobbies that Doug Valeska has had. Other than that of District Attorney and his family, his entire 30 years as District Attorney has been his life.

Doug has not been an Administrative District Attorney but one in the courtroom. Often criticized for being to harsh on cases, Doug put his entire energy into the prosecution of cases. Some victims advocate groups spoke of his fight, his placing financial support of, and working for victims and victim's advocate groups.

Just the week before Christmas, as others who were retiring were cleaning their offices, Doug Valeska was in the courtroom of Hon. Brad Mendheim prosecuting a person accused for killing three people at Teaser's iin Wicksburg. The trial was about one month long. And Doug put all of his energy into the case prosecuting it for the three people who lost their lives and the one injured. The jury has recommended death.

If you have seen Doug's office, that time really needed to be spent cleaning his office. That will take a month! But no, the victim's memory and their families were more important.

Doug's brother, a prosecutor with the Alabama Attorney General's Office was on hand to see his brother retire. Each spoke with great fondness of each other.

The Hon. Judge Binford read a letter from Doug's son about his dad. Doug wept as the letter was read about the admiration that Nick has for his dad. How proud that Nick was to be able to call Doug Valeska his dad. Also how proud he was for the job his dad has done.

Doug's daughter Lacy was there with her son, Doug and Donna's grandson. He is Doug's life and Donna's pride and joy. And he has Doug's energy.

Doug spoke of his love for the people of Houston and Henry County. He spoke about how much he loved his job and will miss it. But he spoke most of his love for his wife Donna and his family.

THANKS for 30 years of service.

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