Governor appoints Wade Whiting as new Crook County DA

Gov. Kate Brown announced Friday the appointment of Jefferson County prosecutor Wade Whiting as the new Crook County district attorney, succeeding Daina Vitolins, who she recently appointed to be a circuit court judge.

The appointment of Whiting, who has been a senior deputy DA in neighboring Jefferson County, is effective immediately, according to the announcement.

“Wade Whiting’s commitment to law and passion for justice will make him an excellent District Attorney of Crook County,” Brown said. “Having served on both sides of the criminal justice system — as a prosecutor and, earlier in his career, as a defense attorney — Wade understands the extraordinary power of a district attorney to vindicate aggrieved crime victims and to mete out justice with compassion and humanity.”

Whiting has worked as a prosecutor in the Jefferson County DA’s Office since 2013. He earlier worked at the Madras firm Glenn, Reeder, Gassner & Whiting, LLP, advising businesses, litigating family law disputes, and defending indigent individuals accused of crimes, from 2010 to 2013. While there, he was account administrator for the Madras Indigent Defense Consortium.

He has been president of the Jefferson-Crook County Bar Association, a board member of Mountain Star Relief Nursery, a member of Kiwanis International, and a Boy Scout Cubmaster. Whiting lives with his four children and his wife Mykle in Prineville.

The Crook County Board of Commissioners, the City of Prineville and other community partners conducted a process to vet the applicants for this position and recommended Whiting as the group’s choice for appointment, the governor’s office said.