Election 2023: Chris de Barrena-Sarobe Runs For District Attorney

WILLISTOWN, PA — Chris de Barrena-Sarobe, a career prosecutor and Democrat, has launched his campaign for Chester County District Attorney.

“Chester County is a special place with a deep history and a brighter future,” Barrena-Sarobe said Monday. “I want to be our next district attorney to keep Chester County a safe and just place where families and businesses can thrive.”

District Attorney Deb Ryan announced her candidacy for a seat on the Chester County bench. The district attorney position is a four-year term.

Barrena-Sarobe, 39, of Willistown is the first candidate to announce his candidacy for the job as top prosecutor in Chester County.

Barrena-Sarobe is a graduate of the University of California Berkeley and Temple Law School.

After graduating from law school, Barrena-Sarobe was hired as an assistant district attorney in Chester County.

In 2015, a Barrena-Sarobe was one of the team members who received an award for outstanding drug investigations with a High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Strike Task Force for “Operation Spiderweb.” The team dismantled a cocaine operation that was affiliated with Mexican drug cartels.

In 2014, he was promoted to deputy district attorney and served as the head of the office’s drug unit, consisting of a team of detectives and prosecutors who worked on complex cases that led to convictions of heroin and fentanyl dealers.

In 2015, Barrena-Sarobe landed a job as a federal prosecutor, where he investigated and prosecuted all types of federal offenses and served as the office’s Ghost Gun Coordinator.

Last month, Barrena-Sarobe and members of his team were selected to receive the Assistant Attorney General’s Distinguished Service Award for their work related to the rescue of an American who was kidnapped by Sinaloa Cartel members in Mexico.

The operation ran from Bear, DE, to King of Prussia. In the investigation, Luis R.C. Valenzuela was arrested on charges of keeping the victim captive and four other suspects were charged with related drug offenses.
“As a local and federal prosecutor, I have worked to keep our communities safe by utilizing modern investigative tools," he said.

Barreba-Sarobe said that if elected he will work with community leaders to combat crime in a fair and thoughtful way and lead the office with integrity.

Due to federal law, Barrena-Sarobe left his position as a federal prosecutor to run for district attorney and now practices at Bellwoar Kelly, LLP in West Chester. He is married and has two daughters.
More information about Barrena-Sarobe is available here.