Wagner tabbed by board as new county district attorney

The Mariposa County Board of Supervisors selected Spenser Wagner on Oct. 6 to serve as district attorney forthe remainder of the current term.

Wagner’s appointment will become official after he establishes residency in Mariposa County and registers to vote, as required by state law. The district attorney is an elected position, and voters will choose a candidate in 2028 to serve after the current term expires.

Wagner most recently served as a senior deputy district attorney in the Madera County Special Victims Unit,where he tried jury cases and conducted numerous preliminary hearings. He previously served as a volunteer deputy district attorney in Marin County.

He earned both his Juris Doctor from the University of California, Davis School of Law and his Bachelor of Arts from UC Davis.

In his application, Wagner said his primary objective is to have a positive impact on the community. “Serving as District Attorney effectively requires more than simply prosecuting important cases,” Wagner said. “Becoming a successful leader of the District Attorney’s Office entails working effectively with law enforcement partners, County leadership and the Board of Supervisors, the defense bar, and the Superior Court.

“I recognize all of this, and with dedication and effort, I am confident that I will develop the office into a well-functioning department staffed by well-trained employees,” he added.

Wagner and his wife plan to purchase a home in the Mariposa area and hope to close on the property soon.

He has identified a rental unit as an alternative if problems arise with the purchase.

The vacancy followed the resignation of former District Attorney Walter Wall, who many believed was the best district attorney to serve the county in many, many years, earlier this year.

Assistant District Attorney Jared Egan has served as interim district attorney and will return to his previousposition when Wagner’s appointment becomes official.