The Prosecutor

A picture of Prosecutor, Brent Eaton

Brent Eaton has served as the Hancock County Prosecutor since 2015. Hancock County has consistently been one of the nation’s safest communities with Eaton’s leadership. Prior to serving as Prosecutor, he was the Deputy Prosecutor for Marion County from 2002-2003 and Deputy Prosecutor for Hancock County from 2003-2006. Eaton was in private legal practice from 2006-2014.

Prosecutor Eaton created a victim assistant position within the office.  It ensures that victims rights are respected and followed in the prosecution of criminal cases.  In his second year Eaton created a deputy prosecutor position to focus on domestic violence and sexual assault cases. He has also partnered with local medical providers and law enforcement to improve our resources and investigations on cases where defendants have committed violent crimes against victims. As a result of these changes Eaton’s office began to successfully prosecute Sexual Assault cases.  Prior to Eaton’s becoming Prosecutor it had been almost ten years since anyone was convicted of Rape in Hancock County. In addition, HCPO has a 100% conviction rate in murder and attempted murder trials since Eaton became Prosecutor.

Eaton has been at the forefront of utilizing both incarceration and treatment resources to address cases involving substance abuse and mental health issues. 

He was among the first prosecutors in the nation to create a system where defendants with severe substance abuse issues could serve time in residential recovery residences as part of their sentence to help provide the tools and support for them to achieve and maintain sobriety.  Eaton believes, “Sobriety is good for public safety.  People are much less likely to commit crimes when they are in sobriety and not a state of addiction”.  In addition, Eaton is one of the founding members of the Hancock County Behavioral Health Court, and the Hancock County Drug Court and is actively involved with both on a weekly basis.  

Eaton is the founder of the Hancock County Law Enforcement Council where all local law enforcement agencies meet three times a year to improve communication, cohesion and to discuss and implement the latest crime fighting techniques.

He serves on the Hancock County Community Corrections Advisory Board, the Hancock County School Safety Commission, and the Fairbanks Community Behavioral Health Advisory Board.   He is a member of the National District Attorneys Association (NDAA).  In that capacity he served on the National Opioid Crisis Working Group. He was the only prosecutor in Indiana to be named to the group. He is also a graduate of the National District Attorneys Association Executive Course. In addition, he is a member of the Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys Council and serves on that organization’s public relations committee.

Eaton is a community Leader in Hancock County.  He serves as the Board of Directors President for The Landing Place, a program that helps those with mental health and substance abuse issues.  He was a founding board member and former vice-president of Zoey’s Place Child Advocacy Center, and currently serves on the Love INC of Hancock County Board. He is a lifetime member of Bradley United Methodist Church, and an NRA member.

Eaton is a Greenfield-Central High School graduate and alumni hall of fame inductee. He obtained his bachelor's degree from Wabash College and earned his juris doctorate from the Indiana University McKinney School of Law in 2001. He and his wife Susan live in Greenfield with their family.