Eric Zahnd
Eric Zahnd was first elected as Platte County Prosecuting Attorney in 2002. He leads a
team of 28 attorneys and staff members who are responsible for handling thousands of
cases each year, ranging from traffic offenses to first degree murder. He graduated with
honors from William Jewell College and Duke Law School. Prior to serving as
prosecuting attorney, he was a business litigator with one of the nation’s largest law
firms. He has been married for more than 30 years and has two adult sons.
Justin Kalwei
Justin Kalwei is a trial team leader in the prosecuting attorney’s office. He originally
joined the office in 2007. He practiced as a criminal defense attorney from 2015 to 2018
and rejoined the office in 2018. He has tried cases ranging from traffic tickets to first
degree murder. He obtained his undergraduate degree from William Jewell College and
his law degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. He is married and has three
children.
Sydney Alizadeh
Sydney Alizadeh has been an assistant prosecuting attorney in Platte County since 2022. She specialized in domestic violence cases before becoming the office’s lead treatment court attorney. She obtained her undergraduate degree from University of Missouri-Columbia and her law degree from St. Louis University. In her personal time, she enjoys spending time with her two dogs and practicing jiu jitsu.
Eric Allen
Eric Allen serves as the Coordinator of the Platte CARES program. Prior to joining the
office in 2021, he was a Felony Probation and Parole Officer for the State of Missouri.
He received his undergraduate degree at the University of Arkansas and an MBA from
Tulane University in New Orleans. He has three grown children and enjoys umpiring
youth baseball games.
Tanya Faherty
Tanya Faherty leads the Victim Services Unit of the prosecuting attorney’s office. She has been with the office since 2005. She has served in almost every staff position, having joined the office as a data entry clerk and now serving as a unit supervisor. She is a life-long resident of Platte County and has been married for more than 30 years. She has two adult children and one grandchild.