This Merced County deputy DA was just named the top prosecutor in California

A Merced County supervising deputy district attorney has been named the top prosecutor of the year for small and mid-size cities in California.

Serratto has tried 57 cases to verdict since joining the District Attorney’s Office in 2007, the release states. He is reportedly the first Merced prosecutor to receive the honor, which comes from his trial work in 2017.

Last year, Serratto secured guilty verdicts in three murder cases and an attempted homicide case, all gang related, according to the release. Two of those cases resulted in life sentences from special circumstance allegations.

“Matt is an exceptionally talented and dedicated prosecutor,” District Attorney Larry Morse II states in the release. “His work in and out of the courtroom in 2017 was simply incredible and he is most deserving of this highest honor for a prosecutor.”

Serratto also last year was the lead prosecutor for Operation Scrapbook, a multi-agency investigation that resulted in the arrest of 74 gang members and associates.

He was promoted to supervising deputy district attorney in February, and he was elected to the Merced City Council in 2016.

Serratto received his bachelor’s degree from UC Davis in 2002 and graduated with a law degree from UCLA.

He will be honored during an awards banquet at the CDAA summer conference on Aug. 2 in Anaheim, the release states.