PORTLAND, Ore. - Today, United States Attorney for the District of Oregon, Amanda Marshall, announced that M. Brent Leonhard has been appointed as a Special Assistant United States Attorney to prosecute federal crimes occurring in Indian Country. Leonhard is an attorney for the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation ("CTUIR"). He will continue to work full-time for the CTUIR, and his prosecution of federal crimes will be in addition to his responsibilities representing the CTUIR.

"We are incredibly excited to have Brent prosecuting cases in Indian Country," said U.S. Attorney Marshall. "Brent's dual roles as both a lawyer for the tribes and a Special Assistant United States Attorney will further improve coordination between tribal authorities and federal law enforcement during criminal investigations."

Leonhard has a long history of advocating for Tribal Nations. He is currently serving on Attorney General Eric Holder's Violence Against Women Federal and Tribal Prosecution Task Force in Indian Country. Further, while working for the CTUIR, Leonhard assisted in drafting language for the Tribal Law and Order Act of 2010.

Leonhard has already begun prosecuting federal cases on the Umatilla Indian Reservation, including a case in which a non-tribal member is charged with stealing money from a tribal member at the Wildhorse Casino and Resort, and another case in which a non-tribal member is charged with defrauding the Arrowhead Travel Plaza.

Leonhard has previously served as the lead prosecutor for the White Mountain Apache Tribes and as the head of the public defender office for the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation. Leonhard received his J.D. from the University of Washington and his B.A. from Western Washington University.