DELPHI, Ind. (WLFI) — Carroll County will have a new prosecutor at the start of the new year. Attorney Nicholas McLeland will take on the position.

"I actually started in my grandma's basement with a cellphone and a laptop and a printer," said McLeland.

That's how McLeland opened his own practice in 2010. He now has an office in downtown Delphi, where he focuses on criminal defense.

"I'm a public defender here in Carroll County, White County, and Clinton County. I did do some public defender work in Tippecanoe County, but I don't do that anymore. So, that is probably 80 percent of my caseload," said McLeland.



He's ready to turn the tables and become prosecutor.

Rob Ives is stepping down at the end of the year. McLeland was selected to replace him after caucus was held by the Republican Party.

He wants to hopefully make a positive change in the county he calls home.

"I didn't feel like I was able to do that, defending people on the criminal defense side. I really feel like I can make a positive change as the prosecutor and that's my goal. When I'm done being prosecutor then I can leave the county in a better position than when I started," said McLeland.

He is well aware he could be taking on high-profile cases – the murders of Abby Williams and Libby German and the four sisters who died in a house fire in Flora. He said his first step will be talking to investigators to make sure he's caught up on the cases.

"Talk with Indiana State Police, local law enforcement, the FBI that are involved and get caught up on where the evidence is pointing at this point and what evidence they have," said McLeland.

He will officially start as prosecutor here on Jan. 2. However, he has his work cut out for him before that happens.

"We're working on closing down an office that's been open for that long and there's a number of cases in a number of different counties and so, it's a little hectic."