BALLSTON SPA — Saratoga County District Attorney Karen A. Heggen announced last week the appointment of First Assistant District Attorney Alan M. Poremba.
Poremba, 42, began his prosecutorial career in 1999 as assistant district attorney (ADA) in Albany County. In October 2004 former Saratoga County District Attorney James A. Murphy appointed Poremba to the same position.
As first assistant district attorney, Poremba will have both courtroom and administrative duties. He will handle his own caseload while assisting and supervising all other ADAs in the courtroom. Poremba will work with Heggen to assign cases, train ADAs, implement internal policies and evaluate her professional staff. He also will act as the district attorney if Heggen is absent or unavailable.
Poremba has served as the Saratoga County Drug Unit bureau chief, where he primarily handled felony drug cases while prosecuting various types of violent felonies as well. Three of Poremba’s most notable prosecutions include: Nelson Costello, a 40-year-old cold case homicide; Douglas Stewart, convicted after trial of menacing a police officer; and Rodney Bailey, convicted in 2006 on manslaughter in the first degree.
Poremba, a Town of Ballston resident, graduated from Minnechaug Regional High School in Massachusetts, Union College in Schenectady, and Albany Law School. His wife, Jessica, is a kin- dergarten teacher in Saratoga Springs and they have two young children, Cole and Ava.
In a statement, Heggen said Poremba “has been a dedicated member of this office for many years. I am pleased that he will now be serving in a leadership role as my first assistant district attorney. He is someone respected by attorneys, members of law enforcement and the many professionals my office interacts with on a daily basis...I am confident that he will continue to serve the citizens of Saratoga County with dedication and devotion to justice and the rule of law.”
“I am honored to be appointed first assistant district attorney,” Poremba added in the statement. “I will continue to work hard every day in an effort to ensure the ultimate goal of justice through the highest standards of professionalism. I look forward to working with District Attorney Heggen in advancing her initiatives and continuing to work with such a strong team of truly dedicated and talented individuals.”