MacNeill is interim district attorney

MALONE - After taking the oath of office Friday, former District Attorney and newly robed Family Court Judge Derek P. Champagne's first order of business was to swear in his replacement, Acting District Attorney Glenn MacNeill.

Long presumed the heir apparent to the position, MacNeill debated accepting it but ultimately decided to do so.

"When you're put in the position, the way this happened, you look at what your options are," MacNeill said. "You have to look at whatever options are out there.

From left, Acting District Attorney Glenn MacNeill is sworn in by Judge Derek Champagne while Barbara MacNeill, Sara Sheldon, Cassidy Malley and Judge Robert G. Main Jr. observe. (Enterprise photo Tom Salitsky)

"I am happy I accepted the position, and I am looking forward to hopefully doing some good things."

MacNeill said he doesn't have a specific agenda in place for the job as his recent efforts have been primarily devoted to preparing for the upcoming Angela Ball murder trial and the office's transition period. MacNeill has been working hard on the Saranac Lake case along with Assistant DA David Hayes, and he said the two will be ready to go to trial on Jan. 27.

"It takes a lot of work, and we're putting in that time to be ready," MacNeill said.

MacNeill is still debating if he will run for DA this fall. His term as acting DA will expire in January 2016, and he will have to win an election to continue to serve in the position.

"I wouldn't have taken the acting (DA) job if I wasn't serious about running," MacNeill said.

MacNeill is excited about the new position, and, after prosecuting cases for 15 years, he is ready to take on a larger role in the county.

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MacNeill is interim district attorney