Attorneys and Staff

With a distinguished career spanning more than a decade in Pennsylvania’s trial and appellate courtrooms, Robert D. Oliver brings extensive legal expertise and a profound commitment to justice to the role of Chief Public Defender of Erie County. His wealth of experience as a judicial law clerk and assistant district attorney has given him a comprehensive understanding of the legal system, from which he has developed a formidable track record of upholding the rule of law and preserving constitutional liberties.  Robert is particularly enthusiastic about collaborating with County Executive Christina Vogel to implement positive changes and ensure the highest standards of legal representation for all, channeling his strong sense of fairness into a steadfast commitment to protecting the rights of the people of Erie County.

A native of Crawford County, Robert relocated to Erie during the pandemic to be closer to his family after fifteen years in Philadelphia, where he earned his Bachelor of Business Administration in finance from the Fox School of Business at Temple University and his law degree from Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law before starting his legal career.  His dedication to helping others extends beyond the courtroom; Robert believes deeply in the treatment and rehabilitation of individuals struggling with substance use and mental health disorders.  His compassion and community-driven worldview inform all aspects of his life, further enriching his service to the people of Erie.  In his free time, Robert is a doting uncle to his nieces and nephew and a passionate animal lover, sharing his home with five beloved pets.

Christopher Klingman joined the Erie Public Defender’s Office as an Assistant Public Defender in January of 2025. He is now serving as First Assistant to the Chief Public Defender.

Chris graduated Magna Cum Laude from the North Carolina Central School of Law (Go Eagles!). Chris’s practice has been solely criminal defense, since 2019. He is dedicated to providing excellent counsel to his clients, and loves his work as a Public Defender. Prior to working as a Public Defender, Chris practiced across a variety of practice areas, including Real Estate, Civil Litigation (specializing in complex business disputes), and Business Law.

Chris grew up in the Pittsburgh area. His greatest source of joy is his family. He enjoys the outdoors, and his hobbies include woodworking and photography.

Attorney Michael DeJohn currently serves as the Trial Chief Deputy Public Defender to Erie County, Pennsylvania.  He has worked as an Assistant Public Defender in both Erie and Crawford Counties since 2002.

He is a lifelong resident of Erie, Pennsylvania.  He graduated from Cathedral Preparatory School, obtained his Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice from Gannon University, and his Juris Doctorate from the University of Dayton – School of Law in 2000.  While in school, he was the Magister (President) of Phi Delta Phi, an International Honors Legal fraternity, and Vice President of the Criminal Law Association.

He is a former Prosecutor’s Aide, law clerk, and legal arbitrator.  Attorney DeJohn specializes in criminal cases and has handled over 8,000 cases at all stages within the past several decades.  He is a skilled trial lawyer and is in a courtroom nearly every day.  He is the former Chair of the Criminal Defense Section of the Erie County Bar Association (2022).  He is also a licensed and commissioned Notary Public (since 2008).

Outside of work, Attorney DeJohn is involved as a Board Member and Treasurer of the Erie Free Store, Inc., Attorneys & Kids Together Mentoring Program (since 2007), Former Lay Leader of Koinonia of Erie County, and Scouts BSA Troop 61 Treasurer and Pack 61 Den Leader.  He is an avid guitar player and has been part of several worship bands since 2005.

Attorney DeJohn is proud to have dedicated his career to indigent defense.

Attorney Jessica Fiscus joined the Erie County Public Defender’s Office part time in 2017.  As a member of the appellate division, she represents those convicted of crimes or recommitted as state parole violators in their appeals to the Superior Court, Commonwealth Court and Supreme Court of Pennsylvania.  She also assists individuals with filing PCRA petitions and in achieving reductions in court-ordered financial obligations following conviction.

Attorney Fiscus received her Bachelor of Arts in the Program of Liberal Studies from the University of Notre Dame in 1997.  She graduated cum laude from the Case Western Reserve School of Law in 2000.  For the next several years, she served as a staff attorney for Judges Michael Joyce and Fred Anthony in the Superior Court of Pennsylvania.

In 2008, Attorney Fiscus started a private practice in Erie, Pennsylvania, which focuses on direct appeals, the filing of PCRA petitions and collateral appeals, juvenile defense, and family law.  She is a member of the Erie County and Pennsylvania Bar Associations and the Pennsylvania Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.  She serves on SafeNet’s Protection from Abuse Coordinated Services Board, as a volunteer with the Veterans Legal Clinic and Highmark Caring Place, and as a solicitor for the Charter School of Excellence.

Anthony 'Tony' Himes has over thirty-eight years of experience as an attorney.  Currently, he is a part-time public defender in Erie, focusing on juvenile criminal matters and placement.  He also works part-time as private counsel in his local firm, Himes Law, where he practices insurance, workers' compensation, and criminal law, as well as in other areas of litigation.

Brian D. Arrowsmith, Esquire is a part-time Assistant Public Defender (2014-present) and law partner at the law firm of Carney & Good (2014-present).  Attorney Arrowsmith concentrates his practice in the areas of criminal defense (both adult and juvenile) and family law litigation, while also handling cases involving wills and estates.

Previously, Attorney Arrowsmith served Erie County as an Assistant District Attorney (2010-2014) subsequent to his experience as a law clerk to the Honorable Shad Connelly of the Erie County Court of Common Pleas (2007-2010), and as a federal law clerk in Cleveland, Ohio, to the Honorable Perry J. Rhew, Chief Administrative Law Judge for the Office of Medicare Hearing and Appeals in the United States Department of Health and Human Services (2005-2007).

An Erie County Native, Attorney Bickel is a graduate of Fort LeBoeuf High school and Penn State University.  After graduating with honors from Syracuse University College of Law, he came back to Erie to open his own law practice, focusing on criminal and family law.

For 20 years, Attorney Bickel has represented defendants all over Northwest Pennsylvania, in both state and federal court.

He is currently the chairman of the criminal defense section of the Erie County Bar Association and has been a part time public defender for 19 years.

A proud father of 3, Attorney Bickel enjoys all sports and on his rare off days enjoys golfing and spending time with family.

Seth Boos is a Juris Doctor graduate from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, with a strong foundation in criminal law, public interest advocacy, and environmental legal issues. He holds a B.A. in Psychology with a minor in Leadership Studies from the University of Colorado Boulder.

Seth has served as a legal intern at both the Butler County and Allegheny County District Attorney’s Offices, where he gained courtroom experience conducting preliminary and suppression hearings. His legal background also includes work in federal Indian law and environmental litigation, having interned with the Law Office of Steve Boos and Three Rivers Waterkeepers.

Prior to law school, Seth was a TEFL-certified Peace Corps Volunteer in Ecuador, a court watch volunteer with the ACLU of Colorado, and worked in both business and educational roles. His diverse experiences reflect a commitment to justice, service, and interdisciplinary thinking. He is a smart and fearless attorney advocate for his Erie County Public Defender clients.

Attorney Vito M. Gentile started with the Erie Public Defender’s Office in 2025.  Originally from Reading, Pennsylvania, he moved West to attend the University of Pittsburgh, receiving his J.D. and his B.A. in History.  During law school, he received the William Frederick Schulz, Jr., Legal History Award for the most outstanding legal history paper judged by the Pitt Law faculty.

Before moving to Erie, Attorney Gentile gained criminal defense and public service experience working with the Allegheny and Berks County Public Defender’s Offices and the Allegheny Court of Common Pleas.

Outside of work, his passions include hiking, reading ancient literature, and watching the Pittsburgh Steelers and Pitt Panthers.

KataraLynn was born and raised in Kansas. She earned her undergraduate degree at Truman State University in Missouri before attending Liberty University School of Law in Virginia, where she received her Juris Doctor in 2025. During law school, KataraLynn completed externships in both private practice and with the Judge Advocate General’s Corps, gaining experience in legal research, drafting, and advocacy across areas including institutional accountability, military justice, and estate planning. She was also an active member of the Federalist Society, where she remains a member today.

KataraLynn serves as a Mental Health Public Defender with the Erie County Public Defender’s Office, representing individuals charged with criminal offenses who may have extenuating circumstances related to mental illness. In addition to her legal work, she is a commissioned officer in the United States Army National Guard, where she continues to serve with dedication and professionalism.

Attorney Klapsinos was born and raised in Erie, Pennsylvania.  She received a political science degree from Gannon University. She worked as a legislative assistant, for a Pennsylvania State Senator, in the Erie, PA office and for both the Tennessee Valley Authority and the Department of the Interior in Washington D.C.  She left Washington D.C. and obtained her law degree from Western Michigan University, Cooley School of Law, after which, she returned to Erie to practice law.

She had a private practice for numerous year, the Klapsinos Law Office, and also worked for the Northwestern Legal Services for a period of time as well as freelanced for some local attorney.  Attorney Klapsinos recently joined the Public Defenders’ Office in February 2024 where she works full time as the mental health public defender, representing individuals charged with violating the laws of the Commonwealth but who may have extenuating circumstances caused by a mental illness.

Attorney Lindquist has been a licensed attorney in Pennsylvania since 2017. Originally from Jamestown, New York, Attorney Lindquist attended Penn State Erie, the Behrend College where he graduated with a degree in Political Science in 2013. Following undergrad, Attorney Lindquist attended Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law School where he interned with the Innocence Project and graduated in 2016.

Following law school, Attorney Lindquist interned with the Warren County District Attorney's Office while studying for the bar exam, and has been a criminal defense attorney since obtaining his license. Attorney Lindquist has handled cases in numerous different counties across Western Pennsylvania including Erie, Crawford, Warren, McKean and Venango Counties, and was in private practice before joining the Public Defender's Office in April of 2024.

Robert Mingey is an Assistant Public Defender in the Adult Division. A native of Erie, Robert joined the office in 2025 after graduating from the George Washington Law School with High Honors.  In his time at GW, he participated in the Law Review, Mock Trial Board, and Moot Court Board. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree from the Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations. Prior to law school, he spent several years living in Hong Kong, teaching public speaking and critical thinking.

In his free time, he enjoys skiing, golfing, and spending time with friends and family. 

Jason is a part time Assistant Public Defender at the Erie County Office of the Public Defender, where he has the opportunity to assist those who live in the Erie community.

While his law practice represents small business and individuals in varied areas of the law throughout Western Pennsylvania, his office concentrates on vigorously defending individuals charged by the Commonwealth with criminal violations. Jason has a reputation in the Courthouses throughout Western Pennsylvania as a respected Trial Attorney.

Jason earned his Juris Doctor at Duquesne University where he was an editor on Law Review, co-founder of the Animal Law Society, and participated in Moot Court among other activities. His undergraduate degree in Computer Information Systems was earned from La Roche University. He attended law school at Duquesne while working in the engineering and construction field, where he was fortunate to be involved in projects at numerous steel mills in North America.

Outside of work, Jason enjoys spending time with his family and participating in numerous outdoor activites.

Andrew joined the public defender's office in as a part time APD in 2025.  Prior to that, he worked for a year in insurance defense and for over ten years as a prosecutor in Crawford County, PA.

Andrew graduated from Syracuse University College of Law in 2013 and received his undergraduate degree from Penn State's Smeal College of Business in 2010.   In his free time Andrew enjoys spending time with his family.

Andrew has been a prior President of the Crawford County Bar Association and is currently the chair of their Judicial Candidate Forum Committee.

Before joining our Erie office, Matthew Thomas was a public defender in Venango County, a law clerk for multiple judges in Erie and also worked in private practice. While in private practice, Matthew handled a variety of different legal areas, ranging from estate planning to debt collection and defense.

Matthew has also had a long career as a writer and editor, penning over 50 columns, editorials and letters for publications including the Gannon Knight, Washington Times and the Elmira NY Star Gazette, along with two books on history and law.

Matthew graduated from Ohio Northern University in 2012, where he received an award for being the best researcher and writer in his senior writing seminar.

He is very proud to have graduated from Gannon in 2009, where he received an award for being the top graduating senior in the political science department.

Barb Zimmer joined the Office of the Public Defender as a Paralegal in March 2025, bringing with her over three decades of experience as a dedicated public educator. Prior to her retirement from education, Barb spent 32 years fostering learning, literacy, and critical thinking in students of all ages.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from Gannon University, and a Master of Science in English Education, and Master of Library and Information Science both from Syracuse University—credentials that reflect her deep commitment to language, learning, and information access. Barb’s transition into public defense reflects a lifelong passion for service and advocacy, now directed at supporting individuals and communities in new and meaningful ways.

Outside of her professional life, Barb is proud to have raised two children and now enjoys the joy and perspective that comes with being a grandmother.

Scott Kooker joined the Erie County Public Defender’s Office in 2024 as a paralegal, where he directly supports the Chief and First Assistant Public Defenders.

A lifelong Erie resident and proud graduate of Northwest Pennsylvania Collegiate Academy, Scott earned a B.A. in Political Science with a Minor in Law from Marymount University in Arlington, Virginia, graduating summa cum laude. While at Marymount, he interned with the National Community Action Foundation, a federal advocacy nonprofit, where he gained firsthand experience in policy and public service. He intends to pursue his J.D. and continue advancing the mission of indigent defense as an attorney.

In his current role, Scott prepares cases for trial, assists with jury selection, coordinates plea scheduling, and communicates with clients. He also supports the Chief Public Defender in addressing trial term clients on the first day of each term, and contributes to the modification and reporting of government grants.

Stephanie is a Paralegal with the Public Defender’s Office, where she began her role in July 2025. A lifelong resident of Erie, she is proud to support individuals in her hometown during some of their most difficult times. She is passionate about helping others and committed to ensuring every client receives compassionate, respectful support.
Stephanie earned her associate’s degree in paralegal studies from the Institute of Medical and Business Careers (IMBC).

Outside of work, Stephanie enjoys spending time with her husband and their two children.

Her family life keeps her grounded and continues to inspire her dedication to making a meaningful difference through her work.