Nelson Names Mark Caliel, Adair Newman Chief Assistants

State Attorney Melissa Nelson announces the promotion of Assistant State Attorneys Mark Caliel and Adair Newman to chief assistant state attorneys, bringing close to 45 years of prosecutorial experience to the key leadership roles for the Fourth Judicial Circuit.

Caliel and Newman assume the roles and responsibilities of former Chief Assistant L.E. Hutton, who was appointed to the Fourth Judicial Circuit bench and was sworn in Jan. 2, 2024. Now under a different organizational structure, both chief assistants will report to First Assistant Stephen Siegel, who continues in the role with nearly 30 years of service at the State Attorney’s Office.

“Mark Caliel and Adair Newman are outstanding prosecutors and have the respect of their peers, defense counsel, and law enforcement throughout the Fourth Circuit,” said State Attorney Melissa Nelson. “They will excel in their new leadership roles.”

Caliel has spent his entire career as a prosecutor in the Fourth Judicial Circuit after joining in March 1997. He most recently was director of Circuit Court and, prior to that, a director of the Targeted Prosecution division. His many roles include team lead on the office’s Officer-Involved Critical Incident team since September 2020 and a member of the Homicide rotation since July 1999.

Newman has spent most of her career with the office, first joining in September 2001 until going to private practice in July 2009. She returned in 2013 and has since served in a variety of leadership roles including, most recently, Special Victims Unit director and Juvenile Division director.

Siegel joined the State Attorney’s Office in 1995, previously serving as a judicial staff attorney for the State of Florida. He has served as first assistant since 2017. Prior to that, he spent time as division chief in Circuit and County courts and Special Prosecution. He is board certified by the Florida Bar in Criminal Law.