Leadership
Public Defender
Theresa G. Haire
Theresa G. Haire
Montgomery County Public Defender
937-496-7478
hairet@mcohio.org
Theresa graduated from the University of Virginia with a B.A. and holds a J.D. from The Ohio State University’s Moritz College of Law. Before becoming the Montgomery County Public Defender, Theresa served as Deputy Director of the Ohio Public Defender for five years. Prior to that, Teresa practiced law as an Assistant Public Defender at the Ohio Public Defender’s Office, successfully litigating cases at every judicial level in state and federal court. Theresa is also a member of the National Defender Training Project Trial School faculty. Theresa’s professional affiliations include membership with the National Association for Public Defense, the Ohio State Bar Association, the Ohio Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, and the Dayton Bar Association. She is licensed to practice in the state of Ohio, the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, and the United States Supreme Court.
DEPUTY Public Defender
Kelli R. Howard
Kelli R. Howard
Deputy Public Defender
937-225-5572
howardk@mcohio.org
Kelli graduated from Wright State University with a B.A. in Political Science and holds a J.D. from the University of Dayton School of Law. She has practiced as an assistant public defender for 19 years and is currently the Deputy Public Defender of Montgomery County, a position she has held for the past 6 years. Before joining the Law office of the Montgomery County Public Defender Office, Kelli was a judicial law clerk for both Judge Barbara Gorman and Judge Richard O’Neill. Kelli taught for 10 years as an adjunct instructor at Sinclair Community College, Central State University and Union Institute and University. She taught courses on Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure, Business Law, and American Federal Government. Her professional affiliations include membership with the National Association of Public Defense, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the Ohio Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the Ohio State Bar Association, and the Dayton Bar Association. Kelli is licensed to practice in the State of Ohio and in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio. Kelli proudly serves on the Ohio Supreme Court’s Task Force on Technology, the board for the Montgomery County Juvenile Court Specialty Docket – Family Treatment Court, the National Association of Public Defense’s Racial Justice Sub-Committee, and the Dayton Bar Association Grievance Committee.
ATTORNEY MANAGERS
Kristine E. Comunale
Kristine E. Comunale
Felony Division Manager
937-496-7395
comunalek@mcohio.org
Kristine graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree from Wittenberg University and holds a J.D. from the Toledo University School of Law. She has practiced as an attorney since 1993. Before coming to our office, Kristine worked for the Legal Aid Society of Toledo. Kristine is a member of the Dayton Bar Association, the Ohio State Bar Association, the Ohio Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the National Association for Public Defense, and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. She is licensed to practice in the state of Ohio. In her free time, Kristine enjoys watching her sons perform in theatre.
Travis T. Dunnington
Travis T. Dunnington
Misdemeanor Division Manager
937-496-7486
dunningtont@mcohio.org
Travis completed his undergraduate work at Missouri University of Science and Technology and holds a J.D. from the University of Tulsa College of Law. Travis has practiced as an attorney since 1998, has litigated over 50 jury trials, and served as lead counsel on capital cases. Travis is a member of the National Association for Public Defense, the Ohio State Bar Association, the Ohio Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, and the Dayton Bar Association. He is licensed to practice in Ohio, Florida, the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, and the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio and is Board Certified as an expert in the field of Criminal Trial Law by the State of Florida. Travis is also involved with the Dayton City Commission’s Community Workgroup, focusing on police recruitment and training reform. In his free time, Travis enjoys watching sports, listening to music, and playing video games.
Nikole E. Xarhoulacos
Nikole E. Xarhoulacos
Child & Family Law Division Manager
937-224-8617
xarhoulacosn@mcohio.org
Nikole graduated from the University of Dayton with a B.A. in Political Science and holds a J.D. from Capital University Law School. Nikole has over 15 years of legal experience that includes her years of service at the Public Defender’s Office and her five years as a Magistrate in Montgomery County Juvenile Court. During her tenure at Juvenile Court, Nikole presided over the nationally recognized Family Treatment Court program and she continues to advocate for those who are struggling with the disease of addiction. She has been an adjunct instructor at Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio for seven years and has taught courses on Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure, Constitutional Law, Probation and Parole, Juvenile Delinquency, and White Collar Crimes. Nikole was recently inducted as a Fellow for the Ohio State Bar Foundation and proudly serves as a Board Member for the Dayton Mediation Center. Nikole’s professional affiliations include membership with the Dayton Bar Association, the Ohio State Bar Association (past Chair of the Juvenile Law Committee), the Ohio Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the National Association of Drug Court Professionals, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, and the National Association for Public Defense. Nikole has been licensed to practice in the State of Ohio and the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio.
ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGERS
Cathy Morris
Cathy Morris
Secretarial Manager
(937) 496-7578
MorrisC@mcohio.org
Cathy completed her undergraduate work at Bradford Business School in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She has been with the Public Defender’s Office for 16 years and has worked in the office’s intake and secretarial divisions. Cathy has also completed the National Association for Public Defense’s Leadership course. When she is not working, Cathy enjoys going to the theatre, concerts, and art journaling.
Jill Bucaro
Jill Bucaro
Manager of Holistic Defense Services
937-266-2042
bucaroj@mcohio.org
Jill graduated from the University of Dayton with a B.A. in International Studies and completed her Master’s of Social Work at The Ohio State University. Jill brings 8 years of experience in the field, with prior experience working with adults experiencing homelessness, mental illness, and alcohol and drug addiction. Jill is an independently licensed social worker (LISW-S), an independently licensed chemical dependency counselor (LICDC), and a certified Anti-Oppression Informed Practitioner through the Ohio chapter of the National Association of Social Workers. Jill has been working at our office for one year and is a member of the National Association of Social Workers and National Association for Public Defense. In her free time, Jill enjoys reading, hiking, spending time with family and friends, and volunteering in the community.
Julia J. Mauk
Julia J. Mauk
Administrative Manager
937-224-3724
maukj@mcohio.org
Julia graduated from the University of Dayton with a B.A. in Philosophy and holds a J.D. from the University of Dayton School of Law. Julia has practiced as a Public Defender for nine years, and before coming to our office, she was the Equal Justice Works AmeriCorps Legal Fellow at Legal Aid of Western Ohio. Julia’s professional affiliations include membership with the National Association for Public Defense, the Ohio State Bar Association, the Ohio Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, and the Dayton Bar Association. In her free time, Julia enjoys Irish dancing and being involved in the community, where she sits on the board of directors for both The House of Bread and Rainbow Elder Care of Greater Dayton.
PUBLIC DEFENDER COMMISSIONERS
The Law Office of the Public Defender is governed by the Montgomery County Public Defender Commission. The Commission consists of five members of the Dayton Community, who are appointed by various county judges and by the county commissioners. The members are as follows:
Dianne F. Marx
Public Defender Commission Chairperson
Term Ending: 12-31-2023
