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Prosecutor Matthew Barrett spent Monday in his office at the Moffat County Courthouse, preparing for the first day of a jury trial and tying up other loose ends.

The trial is scheduled to end Friday, as is Barrett's time in the 14th Judicial District.

Barrett, a deputy district attorney in the Moffat County office for 14 months, has accepted a similar position with the Ninth Judicial District Attorney's Office in Glenwood Springs.

"It's a larger jurisdiction," said Barrett, who began work in Moffat County as the county court prosecutor and later was promoted to handle felony cases. "Being in a larger jurisdiction means more opportunities to be exposed to more serious crimes."

Barrett is the second deputy district attorney the 14th has lost this year to the Ninth. Former prosecutor Ed Veronda left for the Glenwood Springs office in June.

Barrett, 27, originally from Dallas, is co-chairing this week's kidnapping and assault trial with Deputy District Attorney Jeremy Snow.

Barrett said he was thankful for the chance the 14th Judicial District provided him in his first job out of law school.

"I'm very grateful for having the opportunity to work here," he said. "It's been a privilege to serve the members of this community. : The community here accepted me with open arms. Hopefully I was able to make a positive difference."

If he has one regret about leaving Moffat County, it's not being able to continue working with District Attorney-elect Elizabeth Oldham, who takes over in January.

"I support her totally and wish her the best," Barrett said. "I know she's going to do a great job."

Barrett said he won't remember one particular case when looking back on his time in Moffat County.

All his cases were important to him, he said.

"It was about getting justice for the victim, and doing the best I could to do the right thing," Barrett said.

Oldham said the search for Barrett's replacement has begun.

"We have been looking and we have one candidate in mind who we have offered the position to," Oldham said, adding that she hopes to learn next week whether the candidate will accept the job.