Prosecutor Jarvis Parsons seeks DA spot

  • By MAGGIE KIELY

  • Posted: Tuesday, September 20, 2011 7:00 a.m.
  • Text size: A A A


The atrium inside the Brazos County Administration building was unusually crowded at noon Monday as an area prosecutor declared his candidacy for district attorney.


The announcement from Jarvis Parsons, 35, drew a crowd of at least 100 people -- including current District Attorney Bill Turner and many from his office, several area law enforcement officers and former judicial officials.


Parsons, who has nearly 10 years experience as a Brazos County prosecutor, said becoming district attorney hadn't been in his long-term plans and that he didn't decide to run until Turner indicated he'd be stepping down after 28 years in the elected position.


Parsons grew up in Lake Charles, La., and earned his bachelor's degree at McNeese State University prior to graduating from University of Maine School of Law in Portland, Maine.


It was while working for the Cumberland County District Attorney's office in Portland that Parsons said he "got the bug for prosecution" when a mentor told him it was the only job where he'd be able to do the "right things for the right reasons" on a daily basis.


He was hired as a Brazos County assistant district attorney in 2002 and has spent the past four years as chief prosecutor for the 272nd District courtroom.


Over the years, Parsons has tried a variety of felony cases, including thefts, burglaries, assaults and capital murders.


Keeping his wife and 2-year-old daughter and his community out of harm's way is what motivated him to run for district attorney, he said.


"This is real stuff," he said. "People get hurt and when they do, somebody has to step up and say, 'No, we're not going to deal with these games.'"


If elected, Parsons said, he may make minor changes to the day-to-day operations of the office but would continue to adhere to Turner's policy that "no man is above or below the law."


Parsons is the second local attorney to state his intentions to run for the office.


Last week, 36-year-old David Hilburn, a defense attorney, was the first to announce he'd be entering the race.

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