Shelby County DA’s Office Announces New Deputy and First Deputy District Attorneys
SHELBY COUNTY, Tenn. — The Shelby County District Attorney’s Office has named Lessie Rainey as Deputy District Attorney and Monica Timmerman as Associate Deputy District Attorney, elevating two experienced prosecutors to key leadership positions within the office.
Rainey will succeed longtime prosecutor and current Deputy District Attorney Paul Hagerman, who was recently appointed to serve as a judge in one of Shelby County’s new criminal court divisions. Timmerman will succeed Chris Lareau, another long-time prosecutor, who is leaving the office to pursue other endeavors.
“Lessie and Monica are both experienced prosecutors who have demonstrated strong leadership and a commitment to serving the people of Shelby County,” said District Attorney Steve Mulroy. “They bring different experiences and perspectives to these roles, and I’m confident they will help lead this office forward while supporting the important work our prosecutors do every day.”
Lessie Rainey — Deputy District Attorney
A native Memphian, Rainey has served as a prosecutor with the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office since 2009. She graduated from Washington and Lee University and the University of Tennessee College of Law.
Rainey spent seven years in the office’s Special Victims Unit and has served as Chief Prosecutor of the Domestic Violence Unit since 2023. Her years handling some of the office’s most sensitive cases have helped shape a trauma-informed perspective that she brings to prosecution and leadership.
“I am excited to serve the citizens of Shelby County in this new capacity, and I look forward to the new challenges and responsibilities in my role as Deputy District Attorney,” Rainey said.
Monica Timmerman — ASSOCIATE DEPUTY District Attorney
A lifelong Memphian, Timmerman earned both her undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Memphis. She has practiced primarily criminal law since 2013 and joined the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office in 2022.
Timmerman has tried more than 25 jury trials and most recently served as Chief Prosecutor of Criminal Court Division VII. She is a Memphis Bar Foundation Fellow and presented a case study at the 2025 Conference on Crimes Against Women.
The appointments continue the office’s transition following the departures of Hagerman and Lareau and place two veteran prosecutors in senior leadership roles overseeing the work of the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office.
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Media Inquiries:
Erica Williams, Director of Public Affairs
Shelby County District Attorney’s Office
media@scdag.com
Attribution Note: Unless specifically identified as a statement or quote from District Attorney Steve Mulroy, information and statements in this release should be attributed to the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office or its spokesperson.