DA Leriche reacts to petition urging gov to fire him

An online petition is circulating on social media sites, asking the governor to fire Jefferson County District Attorney Steven Leriche, who’s been the county’s chief prosecutor since 2009.

The petition arose after his office reached a plea deal with Raine Austria, the Madras mother sentenced to six months in jail after pleading guilty to two counts of first-degree mistreatment in the death of her baby girl, Katerina Austria.

Jennifer Ihrig, who started the petition, said Thursday that is not justice.

“Six months in jail is not enough for the loss of an infant, because we are supposed to protect them — it’s our job,” Ihrig said.

The online petition has more than a dozen signatures in about a week’s time.

For Ihrig, the petition is personal. Her friend’s husband Leonard Ross was killed by a Madras woman who was driving with a suspended license back in 2010.

The district attorney said the petition does not tell all the facts in some of these cases.

“I think the petition is based upon people that have limited knowledge about the facts,” Leriche said.

Ihrig said she believes the county needs a better prosecutor than what they’re getting from Leriche.

Leriche said his office took the Austria murder case seriously, adding the top prosecutor to the criminal case.

“The decision that has been made with that are based upon facts and law, and that’s how all cases are handled in all situations,” he said.

Leriche said Austria’s husband will be going to trial next month.

If you would like to read the petition, you can click here

Get Steve F. Leriche removed from the Jefferson County D.A’s office