Roger Hannigan Gilson is reporting in the Register-Star the Columbia County Public Defender's Office has received the funding needed to keep its investigator on staff. Public defender Robert Linville said the $150,000 grant from the New York State Office of Indigent Legal Services will help the office strengthen its investigative arm. The investigator position was created in 2013, and will now continue through 2017. “[The grant] ensures continued rigorous investigation surrounding arrests,” Linville said. Investigator Steven Berry is a licensed private investigator, and a former law enforcement officer. He served as an assistant under former Columbia County District Attorney Beth Cozzolino. As an investigator working on behalf of those facing criminal charges, Berry interviews clients and is responsible for identifying and locating witnesses for trial. He also serves subpoenas and court documents. The Public Defender’s Office has an annual budget of $1.1 million and employs seven assistant public defenders. Read the full story in the Register-Star.