Wypasek, Lutz honored by state association
Angela Wypasek, first assistant prosecutor at the Wayne County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, was honored in Columbus on Dec. 8 by the Ohio Prosecuting Attorneys Association.
Angela Wypasek, first assistant prosecutor at the Wayne County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, was honored in Columbus on Dec. 8 by the Ohio Prosecuting Attorneys Association.
The OPAA represents elected prosecuting attorneys and assistant prosecuting attorneys throughout Ohio. Each year at its annual meeting, the OPAA bestows several awards, one of which is Ohio’s Outstanding Assistant Prosecuting Attorney of the Year, which this year was awarded to Wypasek.
At an awards luncheon, Wypasek was commended for her work over the past 20 years as a career prosecutor, beginning her career in Summit County and having served in Wayne County for the last five years.
Highlighted was Wypasek’s experience of having prosecuted hundreds of serious felony cases including a successful retrial of a 2016 Wayne County murder after the original 2017 conviction was reversed by the Ninth District Court of Appeals. Also noted was Wypasek’s passion for pursuing justice, her attention to detail, her trial-preparation skills, her trial abilities, her willingness to try the hard cases and her integrity.
In addition to recognizing Wypasek’s criminal justice achievements, Wypasek also was applauded for her leadership role in mentoring, supervising and training her fellow assistant prosecutors; conducting trainings for Wayne County’s law-enforcement agencies; and her role supervising the Wayne County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office Civil Division.
Due to her leadership while fulfilling the latter responsibility, Wypasek was specifically commended for her service by several elected officials to whom the prosecutor’s office provides legal advice including Wayne County Sheriff Travis Hutchinson, Wayne County clerk of courts Tim Neal and Wayne County auditor Jarra Underwood.
“I am truly blessed to have the privilege of working with such a tremendous public servant,” said Dan Lutz, Wayne County prosecuting attorney. “Angela Wypasek is most deserving of this honor and thank you to all those who recognized that fact.”
Due to his intended retirement at the end of this year, the OPAA also recognized and thanked Lutz for his years of service to the OPAA and to Wayne County.
“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed working with my fellow prosecutors across Ohio as we serve our respective counties,” Lutz said. “With a tremendous leader like Angela Wypasek, I’m confident I am leaving the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office, as well as the safety of the citizens of Wayne County, in great hands.”