Weatherman appointed as new prosecutor; Russo withdraws application for consideration


Tecumseh resident Matthew Weatherman, center, was recently appointed Ozark County Prosecutor to replace retiring Ozark County Prosecutor John Garrabrant, right. They’re shown with 44th Judicial Circuit Judge Craig Carter.

Tecumseh resident Matthew Weatherman has been appointed as the next Ozark County Prosecuting Attorney and is set to begin his duties here Dec. 1. He will fulfill the remaining year left in the term of retiring prosecutor John Garrabrant. 

“I’m looking forward to being here and meeting everyone soon,” Weatherman said Friday in an interview with the Times. 

The appointment was made Nov. 12 by 44th Judicial Circuit Judge Craig Carter. 

 

Weatherman’s background

Weatherman has served as an assistant prosecutor in Howell County for the last two years. Before that, he was employed with the Missouri Public Defender’s office in Monett, Bolivar and Ava. 

He earned his law degree in 2012 from Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley School of Law in Lansing. 

Weatherman said he has roots in Ozark County, and he also has family members who lived in the Thornfield area. He said his family often gathers for Memorial Day in Thornfield and visits later at the Squires Volunteer Fire Department. 

 

Salary and benefits

The Ozark County Prosecutor is paid $146,812 annually. In 2018, the Senate and House voted to tie county prosecutors’ salaries to those of associate judges, making the compensation equal between the two positions. The salary is now governed through Missouri Revised Statute 56.265.

While the two salaries are the same, the funding for the salaries differs. The prosecutor’s salary, retirement and other benefits for the position are paid from the Ozark County budget, while judges’ salaries and benefits are paid by the state of Missouri. 

 

Russo withdraws application

A spokesperson from Carter’s office told the Times that Weatherman was the only applicant at the time the appointment was made and that another attorney had filed a resume to be considered but later withdrew his application. 

Ozark County acting Chief Deputy John Russo, who had earlier told the Times he planned to file for the appointment, confirmed that he had filed the application and later withdrew it after he learned that the appointment might negatively affect his retirement. 

Russo said he was made aware that the time he had spent employed as an assistant prosecutor a few years ago did not count toward his retirement, as he had thought it would. 

“I just turned 60, about time to retire. I’d have to win three elections in order to retire at age 72. I can’t jeopardize what I have if there’s no guarantee there,” he told the Times. 

Russo says he has also decided not to run for the prosecuting attorney position in 2022 and will continue his current employment as an associate professor of criminal justice for College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout, acting Chief Deputy with the Ozark County Sheriff’s Department, assistant fire chief with the Gainesville Volunteer Fire Department and a “PRN” (meaning serving as needed) EMT for the Ozark County Ambulance District. 

 

Already well-acquainted with sheriff and deputies

The new prosecutor said he is well acquainted with several members of the Ozark County Sheriff’s Department, including Sheriff Cass Martin, who worked as an investigator for Howell County while Weatherman served as assistant prosecutor there. He said he also worked closely with Deputy Justin Brown, who worked for the Howell County Sheriff’s Department before transferring to Ozark County, and with OCSD Deputy Alan Daffron, who formerly worked for the West Plains Police Department.  

 

Garrabrant to serve unpaid for December transition

Garrabrant said he will serve in an unpaid position as a special prosecutor for the month of December to help Weatherman get up to speed on Ozark County’s caseload and help him transition into the position here. 

Garrabrant has served as prosecutor for the last five years. He was appointed to the position in 2016 by then-Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon after longtime Prosecuting Attorney Tom Cline announced his retirement mid-term. Garrabrant, who beat out Russo in the 2018 Republican primary, was re-elected in that year’s general election. 

Ozark County Times

504 Third Steet
PO Box 188
Gainesville, MO 65655

Phone: (417) 679-4641
Fax: (417) 679-3423