News reports flashed across the nation when a family of four, including two very young children residing in the Town of Irondequoit, were all brutally murdered in September of 2024.

Unfortunately due a conflict of interest within the Monroe County District Attorney’s Office, the courts determined an outside district attorney was needed to handle the case.

Wayne County District Attorney Christine Callanan accepted the challenge.

 After a long case both brothers, Julio Cesar Pimentel-Soriano, now 36, and Luis Francisco Soriano, now 33, were found guilty of murder, arson, kidnapping and burglary.

The Times poised a number of questions to Christine Callanan on how she was selected to prosecute the difficult case.

What was the conflict of interest that prevented the Monroe County DA’s office from handling the case?

District Attorney Brian Green was previously an Irondequoit Town Justice and signed a warrant recall associated with the underlying investigation. Judiciary Law §17 prohibits a judge or former judge as acting as attorney in any action, claim, matter, motion or proceeding, which has been before him in his official character as a judge.

How were you chosen as the prosecutor? Did you have an option?

I was appointed by Judge Healy who was Supervising Judge for the Criminal Courts in the Seventh Judicial District. Of course, I could have declined. But I knew we could handle it and I know how important it was to see this case through so I accepted the appointment.

How long did it take to prepare and follow through to the conclusion?

The work spanned almost one year from my initial appointment through the verdicts on September 22. Trial preparation intensified starting in June until we began jury selection on August 19.

Anyone else from your office that helped in the case?

Assistant District Attorney Victoria Porter helped me prosecute the case. The entire office contributed by supporting our work on the case and by keeping the office running while we were on trial.

Who assisted you from MCDA’s office?

MCDA could not assist us because of the conflict.

 How much material, paper, video, evidence did you have to review?

It was an enormous volume of material including investigative reports, depositions, phone extractions, search warrants, photographs, forensic evidence, historical cell site records, physical evidence and extensive videos. By the end of the trial, we had admitted over 400 exhibits.

Are you compensated any different for your participation?

I am not compensated any differently. District Attorney’s offices handle these assignments on a reciprocal basis. Other offices take special prosecutions without charging my office and I do the same for them.

 How often did you check back with your office on its daily goings?

I checked in daily and kept up with cases and email throughout the trial. My First Assistant District Attorney Cheryl Nielsen and Second Assistant District Attorney Justin Hill handled day-to-day operations of the office while I was in Court.  

How difficult was it working with two separate juries and how was the courtroom set up to adjust for two juries?

It required some adjustment on our part to ensure that the proof was being presented to both sets of juries. They sat across the courtroom from each other but both had monitors in front of them to review any photographs or videos published during the trial. Fortunately, only one witness required separate presentation of their testimony to one jury at a time. The rest of the case could be presented to both juries together.

How difficult was jury selection for two different juries?

Jury selection took about a week. We utilized questionnaires to address the difficult issues of the case including the graphic nature of the evidence and deaths of two small children. It was an arduous process. We ultimately sat 16 jurors for each jury, totaling 32 jurors, to ensure enough alternates for such a long trial. Luckily, we made it through without having to use any alternates. The same twelve jurors who were sworn and seated for each panel remained through the verdicts.

How big was the jury pool and how many did you go through?

The Monroe County Commissioner of Jurors sent out approximately 2,000 summonses for the trial. We went through over 920 jurors to sit the 32 jurors.

Were you at all concerned about [the people on the jury and how they would react/participate? How did the juries react to photos and videos?

During jury selection, we asked prospective jurors about the graphic nature of the evidence to make sure they could remain fair and impartial when reviewing it. I cannot be sure what each juror was thinking as the photographs and videos were shown but I am sure it was difficult. They remained attentive even during the hardest parts of the trial and took their responsibility to consider all the evidence seriously.  

How long were the dual trials supposed to last and how long did they actually last?

The trial was expected to finish the week of September 22, 2026. We started selection on August 18 so the entire process was approximately five weeks long

Were you at all surprised by how quickly the verdicts came in?

I never try to predict how long a jury will deliberate. The timing of the verdicts showed how closely the jurors had followed the evidence throughout the trial. I am very grateful for the attention and care both juries gave this case.

Winding down? How much time did it take in discussions with the MCDA after the trial?

We packed up the files the next day and closed our satellite office in Monroe County. I have fully returned to my duties in Wayne County and I am very happy to be home.

How long did it take, if ever, for you to personally get all the pictures and videos in the case behind you?

I can compartmentalize what I see in a case. That does not make this evidence any less disturbing but it allows me to study it carefully, present it accurately and remain focused on proving the case.

Did you ever visit the crime site?

No. I was appointed in October 2025, more than a year after the homicides. By then, Investigators had thoroughly documented the scene through photographs, video and the execution of multiple search warrants.

How difficult of a case was this and have you ever had anything close to this in violence and human conduct?

Any case involving the death of a child is difficult and the level of violence here was extraordinary. The challenge was also the sheer scope of the case: four victims, two defendants, two juries and a tremendous amount of evidence that had to be presented clearly and accurately. My responsibility was to give both juries a clear path through that evidence and that is where I put my focus everyday.

 Did you take the case, mentally, home with you every night? I know this is a weird question, but I can only imagine.

Yes, but probably not in the way people might think. I cared deeply about getting this case right. Every morning and night, my mind was on the witnesses, the evidence and any potential issues that might arise in Court. With 54 witnesses, it took constant preparation to present the evidence clearly and effectively.  That was what I carried home.

From this point forward, are you still involved in the sentencing, any future part of it?

Yes, we will see the case through sentencing in November.

I really appreciate your job and how you handled this. Any last thoughts?

I am grateful for the support Wayne County gave my office and me throughout this case. That support reflects who we are as a county. Wayne County stands behind its law enforcement, takes public service seriously and believes that people who commit violent crimes must be held accountable. I am proud to represent Wayne County and to have been able to bring that commitment to this case when another County needed us.