You’ve likely seen him on the news. Or maybe you recognize the name from a headline about one of the biggest celebrity trials of the century.
Kevin Steele is the District Attorney of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. He's been the county’s chief law enforcement officer since 2016, and honestly, his career reads like a script from a legal drama. But who is the man behind the high-stakes prosecutions?
Basically, Steele is a career prosecutor who thrives on the courtroom floor. While some DAs prefer the administrative side of the job, he still personally handles cases in court. He’s been doing this for over 30 years.
The Case That Changed Everything
Most people know Kevin Steele because of the Commonwealth v. Bill Cosby. It was a massive deal.
The case was a focal point of his 2015 election campaign. Steele actually ran against former DA Bruce Castor—the man who had previously declined to prosecute Cosby. It was a heated race. Steele won, and he didn't waste any time. He filed charges against the comedian just days before the statute of limitations was set to expire.
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It wasn't a straight shot to a conviction. The first trial ended in a mistrial in 2017. Most people would have been shaken. Steele wasn't. He went back at it in 2018. During the retrial, he managed to get a $3.38 million civil settlement payout introduced as evidence. He argued it was proof of guilt. It worked. A jury found Cosby guilty of three counts of aggravated indecent assault.
Even after the Pennsylvania Supreme Court eventually overturned the conviction in 2021 due to a previous non-prosecution agreement, Steele’s role in that trial remains a definitive moment in legal history. It signaled a shift in how the justice system handles powerful figures.
More Than Just One Trial
If you think Steele is just about celebrity cases, you’ve got it wrong. He oversees about 155 staffers, including prosecutors and detectives. They deal with everything from road rage to major drug trafficking.
One of his biggest priorities has been the opioid crisis. He's been pushing a "smart but tough" approach. This means aggressively targeting dealers bringing fentanyl into the county while also supporting programs that give non-violent offenders a second chance.
He’s also the only prosecutor in Pennsylvania certified as a Drug Recognition Expert. That’s a pretty specific niche. He even completed the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Standardized Field Sobriety Testing (SFST) instructor course. He knows the technical side of the law as well as the trial side.
A Career Built in the Trenches
Steele didn't just land the DA job out of nowhere. He’s a "hometown" guy in the professional sense.
- Sworn in as a Deputy District Attorney in Dauphin County in 1992.
- Joined the Montgomery County DA’s office in 1995.
- Served as Captain of the Narcotics Unit.
- Became the First Assistant District Attorney in 2008.
He basically climbed every rung of the ladder. Along the way, he prosecuted Kathleen Kane, the former Attorney General of Pennsylvania. She was found guilty of perjury and leaking confidential information. That’s another high-profile win for his resume.
The Person Behind the Suit
Kevin Steele isn't just a face on TV. He's a husband and a father of three. He lives in Lower Merion Township with his wife, Tracy. Interestingly, they met at a Penn State Dickinson Law function.
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He's a major Penn State guy. He served as the President of the Penn State Alumni Association and was on the Board of Trustees. He and his wife even set up a scholarship at Dickinson Law—the Steele Family Leadership Program Educational Equity Scholarship—to help diversify the legal field.
When he isn’t in the courtroom or managing a massive team of detectives, he’s usually coaching youth sports. Baseball, softball, basketball—he’s done it all for his kids.
What Most People Get Wrong
There’s a misconception that Kevin Steele is just a "political" prosecutor. His critics during the Cosby trial often pointed to his campaign promises as proof of a bias.
However, his track record shows a consistent focus on victim advocacy. He’s won awards like the Pennsylvania Governor’s Pathfinder Award for his work with victims. He also sits on the board of Mission Kids Child Advocacy Center. To him, the job seems to be about the person who was hurt, not just the person in the headlines.
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Why He’s Still Relevant in 2026
Steele was re-elected to his position through January 2028. He remains a leader in the Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association (PDAA), often serving as their legislative chair.
This means he has a massive influence on how laws are shaped in the state. Whether it's pushing for tougher penalties for illegal firearms or advocating for "smart reforms," his voice carries weight in Harrisburg.
For those looking to understand the current landscape of Pennsylvania law, keeping an eye on Steele’s office is a good place to start. His approach—mixing high-tech investigation with old-school trial advocacy—has set a standard for offices across the Commonwealth.
Actionable Next Steps
If you are interested in the legal system or live in Montgomery County, here is how you can engage with the work his office does:
- Check the Annual Reports: The Montgomery County DA’s office releases detailed reports on crime trends and conviction rates. It’s a great way to see if the "tough on crime" rhetoric matches the data.
- Explore Victim Services: If you or someone you know is navigating the criminal justice system in PA, look into the Montgomery County Child Advocacy Project or Mission Kids. These are organizations Steele actively supports.
- Follow Legislative Updates: Since Steele is a key figure in the PDAA, his office often highlights proposed changes to Pennsylvania’s criminal code. Checking their news releases can give you a heads-up on new laws regarding drug offenses or domestic violence.