Staff Bios

DANA EDDY, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Dana F. Eddy is a graduate of Salem College, West Virginia, with a double major in mathematics and public administration, and a 1984 graduate of Harvard Law School. Effective July 1, 2013, Dana was appointed by the Honorable Earl Ray Tomblin, Governor of the State of West Virginia, to the position of Executive Director of Public Defender Services, a West Virginia state agency. He has continued in this position during the administration of the Honorable Jim Justice. Before his appointment, Dana was in private practice, which included service on the Criminal Justice Act Panel for the Southern District of West Virginia. Dana’s other positions have included serving as the Managing Trial Attorney in West Virginia for Nationwide Trial Division; an equity partner at the law firm of Jackson & Kelly; General Counsel to the Honorable Gaston Caperton, Governor of the State of West Virginia; and in-house litigation counsel for One Valley Bancorp. Dana is an avid tennis player, at which he is average, and avid reader of fiction, at which he is pretty good. Send email

DONALD STENNETT, DEPUTY DIRECTOR

Donald joined Public Defender Services as the Deputy Director in 2014. He serves as the co-director of the Criminal Law Research Center, final editor for the W. Va. Jury Instructions, final editor for the online Motions Bank, and agency Human Relations liaison to the Department of Personnel. Donald has 38 years of litigation experience, including serving as an Assistant U. S. Attorney (Southern District of West Virginia), Private Defense for Federal Criminal cases, a member of the Criminal Justice Act panel defending criminal cases, Insurance Defense, and a Mediator. He holds a bachelor's degree in English from Concord University, and a J.D. from the WVU College of Law. Send email

CRYSTAL WALDEN, DEPUTY DIRECTOR

Crystal joined Public Defender Services as the Director of the Appellate Division in 2014, before becoming the agency’s Deputy Director in 2023. Before coming to PDS, Crystal served as a Law Clerk and then a Staff Attorney for the Franklin County Public Defender in Columbus, Ohio, a Criminal Justice Instructor at Sampson Community College in Clinton, North Carolina, and then an Appellate Attorney at the Kanawha County Public Defender, where she appeared before the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals numerous times and developed a robust knowledge of current Appellate Rules and Procedures. Crystal graduated from Marshall University with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice in 1995, and Capital University Law School in 1998. Send email

REBECCA "BECKY" CARNEFIX, DIRECTOR OF APPOINTED COUNSEL SERVICES

Becky joined Public Defender Services as the Chief Financial Officer in 2025. Prior to working at PDS, she was the Director of Audits for the WV Racing Commission for 15 years. Becky holds a bachelor’s degree in Accounting from the University of Kentucky and is a CPA. She enjoys traveling and spending time with her family. Send email

LEEANN DOYLE, DIRECTOR OF APPOINTED COUNSEL SERVICES

LeeAnn joined the Public Defender Services team as the Director of Appointed Counsel Services in 2019. Prior to working at PDS, she was the Business Manager and Fundraising Coordinator for the YMCA of Kanawha Valley for 23 years. LeeAnn holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Education from Marshall University. She enjoys traveling, dining out, and doing yoga in her free time. Send email

JOHN "JACK" McGINN, SPECIAL PROJECTS COORDINATOR

Originally from Northern California, Jack McGinn came to Public Defender Services as a Volunteer in Service to America (VISTA) with the AmeriCorps program in 2023, and joined the agency as Special Projects Coordinator the following year, handling projects that vary from updating and maintaining the PDS website to investigating appointed counsel billing. Before coming to PDS, Jack graduated from Boston University with a bachelor’s degree in political science in 2023, and interned at the Boston City Council, the Massachusetts State Legislature, and the National Coalition for the Homeless in Washington, DC. In his free time, Jack enjoys reading, hiking, and spending time with family. Send email

LEE CARPER, OFFICE MANAGER

Lee Carper serves as the Office Manager for Public Defender Services, overseeing the day-to-day administration of the office, keeping office supplies stocked, coordinating with vendors, and more. Prior to becoming Office Manager, Lee also worked at the agency as a voucher processor, helping review and process appointed counsel vouchers. Send email

RYAN McCOY, EXECUTIVE SECRETARY

Ryan McCoy came to Public Defender Services as Executive Secretary to the Executive Director in April 2025. Prior to working at PDS, Ryan spent five years in the Office of the Attorney General for then-Attorney General Patrick Morrisey. Ryan graduated from West Virginia State University with a bachelor's degree in political science and interned with the West Virginia State Senate during the 2020 Regular Session. In his free time, Ryan enjoys watching movies, spending time with his wife and daughter, and playing sports. Ryan has bowled a perfect 300 game multiple times. Send email

LISA CONLEY, ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

Lisa Conley has worked for the state for 22 years. She comes from the Office of Judges where she worked for 21 years under the Office of the Insurance Commission. She was the secretary there to assist the Judges in typing their decisions and orders. After the closure of the office last year, she was moved to Public Defender Services. In her free time from work, she devotes herself to raising her grandchildren. She likes to stay busy, whether it be with the kids, helping others or just chilling with her elderly neighbor. Send email

MAXWELL KOZA, PUBLIC DEFENDER CORPORATION (PDC) ADMINISTRATOR

Maxwell Koza joined Public Defender Services in 2025 as the Public Defender Corporation Administrator. Originally from upstate New York, Max attended West Virginia University and in 2013 started his employment with Facilities Management. During that time, he held several positions within the department and finished as a Maintenance Supervisor for the Erickson Alumni Center. When he has free time, Max enjoys video games, baseball, basketball and spending time with family and friends. Send email

HANNAH McCOY, PDC CENTER RESOURCE CENTER COORDINATIOR

Hannah M. McCoy is a 2020 graduate of West Virginia State University, majoring in Communication (emphasis in Public Relations). She joined PDS in Spring of 2022 and moved into her current role in Fall of 2022. Currently, she serves as a liaison between the Public Defender Corporations and PDS, while providing logistical support to the other PDC Resource Center team members. She enjoys reading as well as spending time with her friends and family. Send Email

MALLORY THOMPSON, PROGRAMS COORDINATOR

Mallory Thompson joined Public Defender Services in 2022 as the Title 4e Coordinator and now serves as the Coordinator of Programs, overseeing several programs embedded in our Public Defender Corporation offices, current and future grants, and is a Youth Task Force team member. Prior to joining Public Defender Services, she was a Recovery Coach serving the 25th Circuit (Boone/Lincoln), 6th Circuit (Cabell), & 24th Circuit (Wayne). She obtained her bachelor’s degree from the University of Arizona Global Campus in psychology in 2022 and her master’s degree in psychology in 2023. Mallory is also a certified Peer Recovery Support Specialist through West Virginia Certification Board for Addiction and Prevention Professionals, Inc. and has been awarded the GUILD Award from Public Defender Services and the New Frontier Award from West Virginia Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors, Inc. Send email

ELIZABETH HATFIELD, ASSISTANT PROGRAMS COORDINATOR

Elizabeth Hatfield is currently in school studying Criminal Justice, with a focus on Court and Legal Studies. Before joining Public Defender Services in February 2023, she worked as a nationally certified pharmacy technician for CVS for almost 6 years. During that time, she traveled across the state to train technicians in other pharmacies and was the lead position for her location. She now helps Mallory run the programs for the Public Defender Corporation offices, maintaining and applying for new grants and is also a Defense of Youth Task Force member. During her free time, she enjoys knitting, reading, and spending time with her nephews. Send email

RICHARD THORNTON, TITLE IV-E COORDINATOR

Richard Thornton joined Public Defender Services in 2023, working as the Title IV-E Coordinator and Grant Chief Accountability Officer. He created and manages the iCan Grant Funding Opportunity. "Impacting Child Abuse and Neglect" (iCan) is a grant program designed to meaningfully impact the outcomes in child abuse and neglect proceedings throughout the State of West Virginia. Send email

LINDSEY BAILEY, HABEAS ATTORNEY

Lindsey Bailey earned her law degree from the West Virginia University College of Law in 2013. Prior to practicing law, Lindsey received a Bachelor of Arts in international relations from Elon University and a Master of Theology from Duke University. Lindsey first specialized in Social Security and VA Disability law before she transitioned into criminal law as a criminal defense attorney. She also served as a judicial law clerk. Since joining the Public Defender Services in 2024, Lindsey has enjoyed the interesting work specific to each of her cases, and prioritizes communication with clients, ensuring that each knows they are not alone, not only in their legal battle, but in their personal battle, as well. Send email

BROOKE PITTMAN, HABEAS ATTORNEY

Brooke Pittman graduated from West Virginia University in 2021 with her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration: Finance. After that she attended the West Virginia University College of Law, where she worked in the law library and at the Erickson Alumni Center, and graduated in 2024. She served as a student clinician in the West Virginia Innocence Project in final year of law school, where she first found her passion for habeas work. Since joining PDS in 2024, Brooke has put significant effort into serving each and every client she has. In her free time, Brooke enjoys spending time with her family and friends. Send email

GORDON SIMMONS, INVESTIGATOR

Gordon Simmons received a Master of Arts degree from Marshall University in 1983. While working at the West Virginia Division of Culture and History in 2001, he began representing public employees and investigating and preparing grievances, doing so full-time from 2008 until 2019. He is now the investigator for the Habeas Corpus Division. Send email

STEVE THOMPSON, PARALEGAL

Steve Thompson is a Paralegal with Public Defender Services. Steve is a Graduate of West Virginia University and is a retired 20-year veteran Legislative Analyst for the WV House of Delegates. In addition to helping fight for justice, Steve enjoys cooking, gardening and the arts. Send email

EMILY HATFIELD, PARALEGAL

Emily Hatfield is an aspiring Paralegal training in the Habeas Corpus Division at Public Defender Services. With a background in Graphic Design, she tries to tackle tasks head on with a creative solution and an open mind. She spends her free time with creative endeavors as well with activities like embroidery and digital art. Send email.

MATTHEW BRUMMOND, LEAD APPELLATE COUNSEL

Matthew Brummond is an attorney in the Appellate Advocacy Division. He graduated from the WVU College of Law in 2008, where he had been active in Public Interest Advocates. Matthew’s present focus is post-conviction work, advocating for indigent prisoners through habeas corpus in circuit court, direct appeal to the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia, and certiorari to the Supreme Court of the United States. Send email

GARY COLLIAS, APPELLATE COUNSEL

Gary Collias holds a J.D. from West Virginia University College of Law and a B.A. in Political Science from Marshall University. Since graduation from law school, he has focused on labor law, plaintiff’s personal injury law, consumer bankruptcy, and federal and state criminal defense practice. Gary was awarded the Southern District Criminal Justice Act Panel Attorney of the Year Award in 2016 and notably tried a six week-long Federal death penalty case in Charleston in 2007 (U.S. v. Valeri Friend). He has served as member of the West Virginia State Election Commission and chaired the commission from 2016 to 2018. Gary joined Public Defender Services as Appellate Counsel in 2021. Send email

OLIVIA LEE, APPELLATE COUNSEL

Olivia Lee is a double Mountaineer with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Juris Doctorate with an Area of Emphasis in Public Interest Law. While in law school, Olivia served as the president for the West Virginia Fund in the Law for Public Interest and Board Member of Public Interest Advocates. Olivia's prior experience involves abuse and neglect, family law, and ADA accommodations in mental health facilities and state jails and prisons. Olivia's practice focuses on the representation of indigent prisoners on direct appeal to the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals. Send email

TYLER KELLER, APPELLATE COUNSEL

Tyler Keller returns to Public Defender Services as an appellate attorney following two summer clerkships with PDS. Tyler graduated summa cum laude from Fairmont State University with a B.A. in Political Science and a B.A. in National Security & Intelligence. Tyler went on to receive his Juris Doctorate from West Virginia University. At the WVU College of Law, Tyler was an executive member of Moot Court and a member of the Moot Court National Team, where he had the privilege of arguing at the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. Tyler is an avid tennis player and movie buff. He enjoys watching football and hockey, and he tries to stay active at the gym. Send email

MARSHA AUBREY, PARALEGAL

Marsha Aubrey has been with the Appellate Advocacy Division as the paralegal for the last 3 years. She is a U.S. Army Veteran, Air Defense Artillery with thirteen years of experience on active duty. In 2013, she began her paralegal career as an independent contractor, working with countless law firms all over the country. Send email

PAMELA CLARK, CRIMINAL LAW RESEARCH CENTER COORDINATOR

Pamela Clark has been with Public Defender Services for 20 years. She began her career with the agency as a secretary, then as a legal assistant for the Appellate Advocacy Division and currently holds the position as the Coordinator for the Criminal Law Research Center. She also serves as a Notary Republic and EEO Counselor for Public Defender Services. In her spare time, she enjoys taking vacations and spending time with her family. Send email

Move LeeAnn here. Heather Jay Cierra

Staff Bios

​​​PDS A​d​​min

Resou​​​​​rce Center

Habeas Corpus D​ivision

Appellate Advocacy ​Division

Criminal L​aw ​​Resea​rch C​en​​ter

Appointed Counsel Services