District Attorney Joe Olt has added a new member to his team.

Brian J. Rossiter, a newcomer to the southwest corner of the state, moved to Cortez last week to join the staff as deputy district attorney for the 22nd Judicial District.

Originally from Muskegon, Mich., Rossiter relocated to the Denver area 18 years ago, where he received his Juris Doctorate from the University of Denver School of Law. Rossiter’s holds two undergraduate degrees, one in political science and the second in psychology.

Rossiter gained many experiences in the legal field following law school, including having internships with judges and district attorneys’ offices, as well as working as a law clerk for a private litigation-support contractor for the Department of Justice.

Rossiter also ran a small private practice on the side while primarily focusing on civil law.

"But I’ve always had that desire for criminal law," he said.

The opportunity to come to Cortez was something Rossiter was eager to take for a number of reasons.

"I’ve always been kind of outdoor-oriented," Rossiter said. "So I like the region very much and it’s a beautiful place to live.

"What really drew me here, though, is the chance to be a prosecutor. I’ve always wanted the chance to be a prosecutor."

Rossiter arrived last Saturday in the midst of an intense snow storm.

"I drove over Wolf Creek and it was pretty nerve-wracking," he said. "It was, ‘Hi. How are you? Here’s your hotel. Let’s start work’."

Rossiter began his duties this week by appearing Tuesday in Montezuma County Court.

"This is my chance and it’s great," he said.

"I’m new. It’s very challenging but I can feel myself getting better and things are getting smoother."