The city of Apache Junction’s new presiding magistrate, Thomas C. McDermott, begins work Jan. 2.
He replaces Aaron Douglas LaSota, who was hired for the position in 2021 for $125,000 a year and resigned in 2024. McDermott will be paid $160,000 annually.
The Apache Junction City Council on Dec. 17 unanimously approved an employment agreement appointing McDermott for a term of two years from Jan. 2, 2025, through Jan. 2, 2027.
“I do appreciate the confidence that the board has expressed in my abilities and I hope that I will do my best to make the municipal court a model of fairness and efficiency,” McDermott told the council before the vote.
Recruitment for a presiding magistrate began in October, took about a month and there were about 20 applications received, Apache Junction City Attorney Joel Stern told the council.
“Then council decided to interview 10 highly qualified individuals in November. Thomas McDermott was chosen and signed a contract on Dec. 11,” he said. “He is highly respected in the county attorney world and also from defense attorneys,” he said later.
McDermott graduated from Saint Joseph’s University in Pennsylvania with a bachelor’s degree in biology and mathematics. He graduated from the University of Arizona College of Law with a juris doctor degree. He worked as a deputy county attorney with the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office. He switched to private practice, then back to prosecution — in Pinal County — including working as a deputy county attorney, Stern said.
McDermott was admitted to the State Bar of Arizona on Oct. 23, 2003, and is working for the Pinal County Attorney’s Office in Florence, it states at https://www.azbar.org.
Meet Richard Richard Dyer has worked at Independent Newsmedia Inc. USA since 1987, starting his career in Apache Junction as a copy editor and being promoted over the years to work as the editor of the Mesa Independent, news services editor for the East Valley office in Apache Junction, managing editor for the East Valley office, news services editor for the East Valley office and eventually also for the newspapers at INI’s then-Chandler office, managing editor again and as a news editor covering Apache Junction/Gold Canyon and Queen Creek. He helped start the Florence Independent while the news editor covering Apache Junction and Mesa news. In January 2023, he became associate managing editor for the East Valley newspapers and in August 2023 became managing editor for the East Valley newspapers of Chandler/Tempe, Gilbert, Queen Creek, Florence, Mesa and Apache Junction/Gold Canyon, while also reporting on Mesa and Apache Junction/Gold Canyon.
Community: Since 2009, he has worked as a volunteer to design The Blue Guitar Magazine, Blue Guitar Jr. magazine and Unstrung magazine, which are projects of The Arizona Consortium for the Arts; and since 2014, has been overseeing the art submissions.
Education: University of Arizona with a master of arts in journalism and a bachelor of science in agricultural communication. Also continuing education at Mesa Community College in welding in a metal art sculpture class.
Random fact: Saw his first tornado on May 31, 2010, which was classified as an EF-2, as part of a stormchasing tour group.
Hobbies: He is an artist of welded-steel sculptures, selling his artwork at juried and non-juried art shows.
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