Chris Liberati-Conant, District Attorney Chris started his career at New York’s highest court, the Court of Appeals, where he served as a Court Attorney. He cut his teeth as a trial attorney with Mental Hygiene Legal Service in the Second Judicial Department in Poughkeepsie. With MHLS, Chris got a front row seat to the ongoing mental health crisis as he represented clients with serious mental illnesses. Chris went on to serve as Principal Court Attorney for the Hon. Denise A. Hartman, AJSC, in Albany Supreme Court, where he provided confidential advice to the judge and drafted hundreds of decisions. Following his time with Justice Hartman, Chris served for five years with the New York State Office of the Attorney General, first as a trial attorney with the Litigation Bureau and then as an appellate attorney with the Division of Appeals and Opinions. Chris is active in the Village of Chatham Fire Department, where he serves as 2nd Lieutenant. He also serves on the New York State Bar Association Committee on Professional Ethics and Committee on Professional Discipline. Chris earned his bachelor’s degree from Rutgers University and graduated magna cum laude from St. John’s University School of Law. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Chief of Staff/Confidential Office Administrator
Zechariah Davidson-Cunningham received his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with minors in Biology and Chemistry at Le Moyne College. Prior to joining DA Liberati-Conant, he served as Campaign Director for the Columbia County Democratic Committee. He was also a program manager for Field Strategies, a political consulting firm based in Washington D.C. and campaign manager for a New York State Senate candidate.
Assistant District Attorneys
Cheryl Botts received her J.D. from Fordham University School of Law and her undergraduate degree from Fordham University. She previously served as an Assistant Albany County Public Defender; Executive Assistant District Attorney handling homicides, violent felonies and sex abuse cases; an associate at Wilson Elser Law Firm; and Assistant District Attorney in Bronx County in the Trial and Gang Major Case bureaus.
Kenneth Golden previously served as a Columbia County Assistant District Attorney and Third Department Judicial Delegate to the state Supreme Court. He was also a senior attorney with the state Department of Labor and senior attorney with the New York Department of State. Mr. Golden has a Bachelor of Arts from Union College; an master's degree from the College of St. Rose; and J.D. from Albany Law School. He is a member of the ABA (American Bar Association) and on the committees for Health and Criminal Law. He has been involved with military pro bono projects; and worked with ABA Veterans’ Claims Assistance Network. He was selected to be part of the ABA Clemency Project from 2014 to 2016, to review the sentences of inmates serving long federal terms to determine if they met certain conditions for a revised or reduced period of incarceration. Mr. Golden has served as an accredited counsel with the Veterans’ Administration and as an adjunct instructor in Healthcare Law and Ethics at Maria College in Albany.
Nicholas Rohlfing received his undergraduate degree from the University of the South and his J.D. from the University of Georgia School of Law. During law school, he participated in the prosecutorial clinic where he assisted in prosecuting cases in the Clark County District Attorney‘s Office in Athens, Georgia. After law school, he worked in the domestic violence and grand jury bureaus at the Bronx County District Attorney‘s Office. After several years in civil litigation, he opened an entertainment law firm in New York City focusing on representing various artists in the Broadway and live theatrical community.
Lucas Machado received his undergraduate degree from State University of New York at Geneseo and his law degree from Temple University Beasley School of Law. He began his career as an Assistant District Attorney at the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office. Prior to joining the Columbia County District Attorney's Office, he was a litigation associate at Whitbeck Benedict & Smith LLP in Hudson, New York.
Valentina Annunziata received her Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice with minors in Pre-Law Studies and Sociology at the University of Maine at Presque Isle. She received her law degree from the University of Maine School of Law. Before moving back to New York, she spent a year as a student attorney at the Cumberland County District Attorney's Office in Portland Maine. Prior to law school, she worked in Northern Maine for two years as an advocate for survivors of sexual assault and violence. Valentina is from Honeoye Falls, New York.
Carlyanne Cicero graduated from Taconic Hills High School, and went on to receive her Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice with a minor in Homeland Security, Cybersecurity and Emergency Preparedness from the University at Albany, SUNY. She received her J.D. from Western New England University School of Law. During law school, she was a student attorney at the Berkshire District Attorney's Office and participated in the Real Estate Clinic. She previously served as a Park Ranger with New York Park Police.
Kathleen Anderson grew up in Hudson New York and is a proud graduate of Hudson High School. Kathleen received an undergraduate degree in philosophy from Bard College, and graduated magna cum laude from Albany Law School. Prior to joining the Columbia County District Attorney’s Office, Kathleen served as a Law Fellow for the Franklin H. Williams Judicial Commission of the New York State Unified Court System, where she performed legal research and assisted with drafting decisions for judges in placements throughout the Third Judicial District.