About
Rio Foltz, PLLC was started by Michael Rio and Jessica Foltz in 2023. We provide exceptional criminal and civil legal representation to our clients, who consist almost exclusively of municipalities. Currently we represent the City of Pasco, the City of Richland, the City of West Richland, the City of Othello, and the City of Union Gap. Our firm also provides regular law enforcement trainings for police agencies throughout the region and we are proud to be teaching Criminal Law at the new Basic Law Enforcement Academy Regional Training Campus in Pasco.
Our Team
Michael Rio
Michael Rio graduated from the University of Montana in 1995 with a degree in cellular and molecular biology. He graduated cum laude from the Gonzaga School of Law in 1999 and was admitted as a United States Patent Practitioner in 2000. Mr. Rio obtained a Master of Laws degree (L.L.M.), in intellectual property, from the University of Houston Law Center in 2001, and was admitted to the Washington State Bar Association in 2001.
Mr. Rio began his legal career in 2002 as a deputy prosecuting attorney for Spokane County where he prosecuted misdemeanor and felony property crimes. In 2005, Mr. Rio began prosecuting cases in the Tri-Cities where he eventually became the primary prosecuting attorney for the cities of Pasco, Richland, and West Richland. In addition to prosecution services, Mr. Rio provides legal advice to the Richland and West Richland police departments regarding civil forfeiture matters, code enforcement actions, and extreme risk protection orders. Mr. Rio has also been the hearing examiner for the City of Benton City, relating to city code violations, since 2007. In 2009, Mr. Rio successfully completed the DRE Pre School Program of the IACP Drug Evaluation and Classification Program. Additionally, Mr. Rio has provided law enforcement training for the cities of Union Gap, Sunnyside, Grandview, West Richland, Richland, Pasco, Kennewick, Connell, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, and has been recently contracted to provide training to the City of Othello Police Department.
Jessica Foltz
Jessica Foltz obtained her undergraduate degree from Pacific Lutheran University in 2006 and attended law school at the University of Idaho College of Law, graduating in 2009. While in law school, Ms. Foltz interned as a prosecutor for the cities of Clarkston and Asotin, Washington. After being admitted to the Washington State Bar Association in 2009, she continued as prosecutor for the cities of Clarkston and Asotin until leaving to accept a Deputy Prosecutor position in Whitman County in 2010. Over the next three years Ms. Foltz was employed as a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney in Whitman and Klickitat Counties, where she prosecuted both misdemeanor and felony crimes and handled criminal appeals.
Ms. Foltz became an Assistant City Attorney for the City of Kennewick in 2013 and was a fulltime prosecutor until being promoted in 2016. Since that time and until leaving Kennewick in March of 2023, Ms. Foltz supervised the Criminal Division of the City Attorney’s Office and was the primary legal advisor for the Kennewick Police Department, providing legal opinions, reviewing policies and procedures, and conducting regular legal trainings for officers.
Currently, Ms. Foltz is the City Attorney for the cities of West Richland and Union Gap. She also assists with prosecution for the cities of Othello, Pasco, Richland, and West Richland.
Carey Campbell
Carey Campbell attended the University of Washington where he obtained his undergraduate degree in mathematics. He went on to graduate from Seattle University School of Law in 2020 and was admitted to the Washington State Bar Association the same year. For the first three and half years of his career he focused on family law, while also handling personal injury, probate, estate planning, and criminal defense cases. Carey has litigated cases in superior and district courts across eastern Washington, including Walla Walla, Benton, Franklin, Adams, Grant, and Yakima counties. Carey was elected as President–Elect of the Benton Franklin County Bar Association in November 2022 and is currently serving as President until his term ends in November 2024. Since joining Rio Foltz in February of 2024 Carey works primarily with the cities of Pasco, Richland, and West Richland prosecuting misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor cases.
Bailey Hampton
Bailey Hampton completed her bachelor’s degree in justice studies from Arizona State University in 2018. During her time in law school at Gonzaga University School of Law, she worked as a law clerk for the United States Attorney’s Office where she handled Federal District Court matters and assisted attorneys in civil and criminal prosecution. During that time, Bailey successfully briefed multiple cases in the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. After graduating law school in 2022, Bailey worked for the Yakima County Prosecutor’s Office in district court, juvenile court, and superior court, and was employed as the STOP Grant attorney where her primary duties were to focus on cases of intimate partner domestic violence. Bailey now appears primarily for the cities of Pasco, Richland, and West Richland prosecuting misdemeanors, gross misdemeanors, and infractions.
Natalie Abken
Natalie Abken is the prosecution paralegal for the City of Pasco, and has over ten years of experience in the legal field. In addition to her prosecution-related duties, Natalie assists as needed with managerial and civil tasks.
Leida Cruz
Leida Cruz is the prosecution paralegal for the Cities of Richland, and West Richland. Prior to coming to work for the firm, Leida worked as a court clerk with Benton County District Court. Leida’s is the first face to greet visitors as she is the office receptionist in addition to fulfilling her prosecution-related tasks.
Jessica Guizar
Jessica Guizar was hired in the Spring of 2023 as a part-time legal assistant. Jessica is bilingual in English and Spanish and ensures that we can effectively communicate with victims in our criminal cases. Jessica is the prosecution paralegal for the City of Othello and also assists Leida and Natalie with their prosecution-related tasks as needed.