City of Columbia hires John “Jack” McManus as new city prosecutor

The city of Columbia has hired a new city prosecutor.

The city announced Thursday morning it hired John “Jack” McManus for the position.

McManus is a Columbia resident and has nearly 30 years of legal experience. Most recently, McManus served as chief counsel of the Agriculture and Environment Division of the Missouri Attorney General’s office, a position he’s held since 2009, and has been an associate adjunct professor at the University of Missouri School of Law since 2014. In his previous positions, McManus worked for the Tax and Environmental Enforcement Section of the Ohio Attorney General’s office, the Ohio Supreme Court’s Office of Disciplinary Counsel, and the Special Litigation Unit of the Missouri Attorney General’s office.

City officials said current city prosecutor Steve Richey will retire on March 4. McManus is scheduled to start his new position on April 4.

Assistant City Prosecutor Robert Rinck will be the acting city prosecutor until McManus begins his role on April 4 .