Born in Waco, TX, J.R. Vicha is a graduate of Axtell High School. In 2000, he graduated from Sam Houston State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice, graduating with a class rank of first out of 757. Following college, he worked as a McLennan County Probation Officer from 2001-2002. In 2004, he graduated from Baylor Law School. While at Baylor Law, he was invited to join the Baylor Law Review, an honor extended only to those who are in the top 15% of their law school class. He served the Baylor Law Review as an Executive Editor. Following graduation from law school, he worked as a staff attorney at the Brazos River Authority from 2004-2006. While at the BRA, he practiced law in many areas including, water rights, real estate, oil and gas, municipal and contract law. In 2006, he was hired by then District Attorney John Segrest and immediately began handling both misdemeanor and felony cases. When current District Attorney Abel Reyna took office in 2011, J.R. was promoted to Chief Felony Prosecutor in Waco’s 19th District Court, where he served until his departure from the district attorney’s office in 2014.