Kristine M. Whelan
Of Counsel- 845-298-2000 x122
Kristine M. Whelan is Of Counsel at Stenger, Glass, Hagstrom, Lindars & Iuele LLP, bringing over 30 years of legal experience in criminal prosecution and special victims litigation.
Before joining Stenger, Glass, Hagstrom, Lindars & Iuele LLP, Kristine served as an Assistant Attorney General with the New York State Office of the Attorney General, representing the State of New York in civil claims filed under the Adult Survivors Act. In this role, she was responsible for assessing cases for potential settlement, conducting depositions and trials, managing discovery, and appearing before the New York State Court of Claims.
Prior to her tenure with the Attorney General’s Office, Kristine served as Senior Trial Counsel in the Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Bureau at the Bronx District Attorney’s Office, where she prosecuted felony child abuse and sexual assault cases and mentored less experienced attorneys through case preparation, grand jury presentations, and trial strategy.
For nearly three decades, Kristine was a vital member of the Dutchess County District Attorney’s Office, where she rose through the ranks to become Bureau Chief of the Special Victims Bureau. In that role, she oversaw the vertical prosecution of all Special Victims cases — including domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse — while supervising a team of prosecutors and maintaining her own caseload of high-profile homicides and felony offenses. Kristine also served as the District Attorney’s representative on numerous county committees addressing domestic violence, child advocacy, and sexual assault response.
As a trial attorney, Kristine has prosecuted hundreds of cases, including murders, rapes, and complex felony matters involving domestic and sexual violence. She has collaborated with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies on investigations into child exploitation, human trafficking, and homicide. Her courtroom expertise and dedication to victims’ rights led her to become the first prosecutor in New York State to obtain court approval for the use of a facility dog to support a child witness during testimony (People v. Tohom, 109 A.D.3d 253 [2013]).
Kristine is also a seasoned educator and has presented Continuing Legal Education (CLE) trainings for the New York Prosecutors Training Institute on topics including domestic violence, strangulation, and ethical responsibilities to victims.
She is admitted to practice law in the State of New York (since 1995) and has completed advanced training in Forensic Interviewing of Children and Trauma-Informed Interviewing.
Kristine’s career reflects a lifelong commitment to justice, advocacy for victims, and mentorship within the legal community.
Practice Areas
Family Law:
Stenger, Glass, Hagstrom, Lindars & Iuele LLP handles all family law matters including, divorce, child support/custody and visitation rights, to alimony, property division and prenuptial and post-nuptial agreements.
Litigation:
Stenger, Glass, Hagstrom, Lindars & Iuele LLP will handle pre-trial procedures including interlocutory hearings, and post-trial procedures such as costs and enforcement of a judgment for individuals and businesses.
Criminal Law:
When it comes to defending criminal charges, you need a diligent team of investigators. Stenger, Glass, Hagstrom, Lindars & Iuele LLP puts together a strategic defense, protect your rights, and achieve favorable results.
Education, Affiliations & Awards
Bar Admissions
- New York, February 1995
Education:
- University of Richmond School of Law, Richmond, VA
- J.D., May 1994
- Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, NY
- B.S. Sociology, May 1991
Awards and Civic
- 2002 – Family Services’ Crime Victims Assistance Award
- 2008 – Arson Prosecutor of the year, New York State Association of Fire Investigators
- 2010 – The Dutchess County Coalition against Sexual Assault and Domestic Abuse recognition for work in Special Victims cases
- 2012 – The Hudson Valley Psychological Association Healthy Community Trail Blazer Award for being the first prosecutor in New York State to use a facility dog on the witness stand with a child sexual abuse victim as she testified
- 2016 – Dutchess County Child Abuse Prevention Center Champions for Children Award
- Tried over thirty felony cases in Dutchess County Court, including homicides, arson, sexual assault, child sexual abuse, elder abuse, and domestic violence.
- Bureau Chief of the Dutchess County District Attorney’s Office Special Victims Bureau for ten years.