Ryan was born and raised in El Dorado where he attended Parkers Chapel High School. He holds a Bachelor of History and Executive Masters in Public Administration from Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia, AR. He received his Juris Doctor from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law, where he earned top paper honors in Real Estate Transactions. Ryan is admitted to practice law in the state of Arkansas and in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern and Western Districts of Arkansas.
Ryan began his legal career working as a Compliance Enforcement Attorney for Southwest Power Pool in Little Rock, AR, but the call to be a public servant led Ryan to become a public defender. He spent several years as a State and Federal Public Defender, successfully representing hundreds of indigent clients in criminal courts around the state of Arkansas. During that time, he built a reputation as a diligent and caring legal professional. In 2017, Ryan was sworn in as a part-time deputy prosecutor for the 13th Judicial District of Arkansas. In addition, he opened a small law firm dedicated to representing the citizens of South Arkansas.
Ryan is a veteran and in his spare time he enjoys hunting, fishing, and cheering on the Razorbacks and Muleriders with his family.
Daren Nelson has practiced law in South Arkansas since 2006, including the last seven years in the Magnolia area. He practices both criminal and civil law. He is a member of Magnolia Law, PLLC in Magnolia, concentrating on civil litigation, probate, and business law. He currently serve as a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney in the 13th District and handles all manners of felony, misdemeanor criminal cases as well as juvenile cases. He previously served as the Public Defender Manager in the 13th District, supervising thirteen attorneys and staff.
He is active in the community, and currently serve on the Executive Board of Directors for Compassions Foundation, a local domestic violence center in Columbia County.
He has lived in South Arkansas for over 25 years, with the last three in Magnolia. He is a graduate of Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma, and a graduate of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, William Bowen School of Law. He resides in Magnolia and is married to Dr. Krista Nelson, a tenured Associate Professor in Psychology at SAU. Krista and he have two daughters together that reside in north Arkansas and Ruston, Louisiana. He also has a daughter and two grandsons that live in Oklahoma.
He is looking forward to assisting you through your legal issues.