EL PASO DA NAMED TOP PROSECUTOR FOR 2ND TIME

El Paso District Attorney Jaime Esparza was named "prosecutor of the year"
Saturday by the Texas Narcotic Officers' Association and honored at the
group's annual meeting in Fort Worth.

It's the second time in three years that Esparza has won the award. He is
the only prosecutor in Texas to receive the recognition multiple times.

"This is an award I am truly proud to receive again this year and one that
is very meaningful to me because it is awarded by my colleagues across the
state who are on the front lines making significant sacrifices every day to
keep our communities safe and drugs off the street," Esparza said.

Esparza has been the state's district attorney in El Paso since 1993. He
defeated incumbent Steve Simmons in El Paso's 1992 Democratic primary.

The state's Narcotic Officers' Association selects prosecutors each year
for special recognition of those who aggressively prosecute drug cases.

Esparza has established a task force of lawyers in his office who work
exclusively on drug cases.

Esparza was thrilled to get the award three years ago, said Renee Railey,
special projects director in the district attorney's office.

"To get it again really is the pinnacle for him. When your peers elect you,
it feels good," she said.