WOODVILLE – Thursday, July 16, 2026 will certainly be a day to remember for Brooke Montalbano Koi.
The Tyler County prosecutor celebrated her 29th birthday and was sworn-in to begin serving out the current term as the county’s Criminal District Attorney.
District Judge Delinda Gibbs-Walker did the honors in the district courtroom of the Tyler County Courthouse, and congratulated Koi for her achievement, and celebrated the work she has been doing through the past four years of serving as an assistant DA.
Tyler County Judge Milton Powers said he is honored to serve alongside Koi. “She has been a tremendous asset to our county, prosecuting a wide range of criminal matters and assisting the Commissioners Court on county issues,” Judge Powers said.
Koi was appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott to fill the vacancy left by Lucas Babin, who decided in May to not run for reelection, after having served two full terms.
Koi earned her Juris Doctor degree from Liberty University School of Law, where she concentrated her studies in Advocacy and Appellate Advocacy. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice from Sam Houston State University, along with a minor in Animal Science.
“I am honored and humbled by the opportunity to continue serving the people of Tyler County in this role,” Koi said.
Powers added that Koi in the office as the county’s top law enforcer will “ensure Tyler County remains a safe place to live, work and raise a family.”
Many of Koi’s family and friends were on hand on Thursday to celebrate her, including her father, Jeff Montalbano, who said that he and her mother couldn’t be prouder of her.
“Brooke’s journey has been guided by faith, hard work, integrity, and a genuine desire to serve others. We have no doubt she will do an outstanding job and represent this county with honor and fairness,” he said.
“We truly believe God has directed every step of her path, and we know He has many more great things in store for her,” he added.
As the DA, Koi will lead an office in prosecuting criminal offenses and representing the interests of Tyler County residents.
