(Editor’s note: This is a second in a series of profiles about candidates who will appear on the Aug. 5 ballot. Candidates submit the information. John Beger, a candidate for circuit judge, appeared earlier.)
Parke Stevens Jr. of Huggins is a candidate for the Republican nomination for Texas County prosecuting attorney.
A graduate of Houston High School, he earned his Juris Doctorate (law degree) from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law. He has a bachelor’s degree in political science from Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville and minor in criminal justice. At both universities, he earned recognition for his academic achievement.
Stevens’ legal experience includes work in the Jackson County prosecutor’s office.
At the prosecutor’s office, he performed legal functions as investigating, charging and prosecuting felony, misdemeanor, juvenile delinquency, probation and other types of cases.
He reviewed police reports and determined criminal charges for arrest and non-arrest cases and secured additional information from law enforcement personnel when required.
He prepared and tried felony cases for grand jury indictments. Stevens scheduled trials, formulated trial strategy, determined sentences sought, conducted plea negotiations and researched applicable case law.
He also assisted in implementing Kansas City’s No Violence Alliance (NoVA), which brought together the local community, police forces and prosecutor’s office to crack down on drugs, drug dealers and known criminals, he said.
For 10 years, he has served the country as an enlisted Marine, attaining the rank of staff sergeant, before being commissioned as a second lieutenant Marine officer. He served two combat deployments in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. For his outstanding achievements in combat, he was twice decorated with awards. He has served three deployments in support of the global war on terrorism, including the Republic of Georgia, Chile and Peru. He received numerous awards for extraordinary service, he said.