By DEBRA HAIGHT
BCR Correspondent
ST. JOSEPH – New Berrien County Prosecutor Steve Pierangeli outlined his goals and objectives last week to Berrien County Commissioners. Pierangeli was elected last November and took office in January, succeeding Mike Sepic who retired.
Pierangeli introduced himself to board members, telling them about his background and family. A native of Southfield, Mich., he joined the prosecutor’s office here in 2004 and was named the Chief Trial Attorney in 2014 and Chief Assistant Prosecuting Attorney in 2018.
“I’ve been here 16 and a half years, since the fall of 2004,” he said. “My wife and I have four kids, she’s a nurse practitioner.”
He also commented on the status of the prosecutor’s office. “Our office is back up to full staff,” he reported. “We had been short since last October and the last new hire started a few weeks ago.”
He noted that the pandemic has affected his office as both courthouses have limited access and jury trials having been suspended for most of the year. “We’re still way behind on cases with trials,” he said. “The fact of the matter is that no one really knows when trials will start up again. We’re trying to be fluid and flexible.”
“The last I checked, we have over 275 pending felony cases,” he added. “That’s an obscene amount, but we will get through it and make sure we respect everyone’s rights … We’re going to be ready to go as soon as the court tells us to and try to catch up on some of the cases.”
Pierangeli said he wants to continue the initiatives and work Sepic put in place and expand on those efforts. One effort that he will be sure to continue is getting out in the community to reach both adults and youth. “He gave me freedom to get out in the community,” he said.
“One of my focuses is kids and the issues of cyberbullying and sexting,” he said. “I’ve been doing presentations to schools and will be doing one in Niles next week. I want to do what I can to prevent kids from becoming victims.”
Pierangeli was the prosecutor in charge of the “sextortion” case involving Niles High School students a decade ago. It was the first time a case of that nature was prosecuted and taken to trial in Berrien County. Five youth either pled guilty or were found guilty at trial in that case.
Pierangeli said he’s also working with the court’s juvenile division to develop a new diversion program for juveniles. “We want to have a new diversion program for low risk juveniles who can be diverted if it’s appropriate and safe to keep them out of the system,” he said.
Another area he wants to focus on is gun violence. “Another thing that’s very important to me is talking about violence and violent acts where guns are used,” he said. “Unfortunately we are seeing younger and younger kids involved with guns. I want to work with the sheriff, the police and schools.”
Pierangeli has long been involved in child advocacy programs including serving on the board of directors of the Children’s Advocacy Center of Southwest Michigan. He said that giving victims their voice back after assaults is important and he told county commissioners he wants to help adult victims just as he’s helped children who have been victims.
“The new sexual assault response team will be for adults and myself and (Chief Trial Attorney) Cortney O’Malley will be on call 24/7 along with (victim rights coordinator) Carolyn Groen,” he said. “It will be up and running by the end of March, it’s something really exciting that I’m looking forward to.”
He said he wants to expand his office’s presence in the community. “I want to expand our presence in the community and let people know what we offer,” he said. “I am presenting programs to churches including one on the state’s new expungement law.”
Pierangeli said his overall goal is to get out in the community as much as possible along with overseeing the prosecutor’s office. He said he does plan to continue to prosecute cases when possible.
Last week’s county board meeting also featured discussion of approving a letter or resolution voicing the county’s displeasure with “one size fits all” state orders that have adversely affected restaurants and other businesses in the state. The approval of a letter or a resolution was expected to take place at this week’s meeting.
County Board Chairman Mac Elliott said he was surprised to see the state’s orders restricting restaurants to only 25 percent occupancy be continued through March. “We had hoped they would transition to higher occupancy percentages for those of us outside the Detroit area,” he said. “… We’ve paid a heavy price, a little common sense could go a long way.”
“That means not having it one size fits all and recognizing parts of the state that are better or worse off,” he added. “We want the state to recognize local conditions. We are doing pretty well right now unless you own a restaurant and are operating at an occupancy level that ensures that you can’t stay in business.”
Other commissioners agreed with the need to ease restrictions. Vice-Chairman Ezra Scott said he felt that Whitmer should have come out and said she was extending the 25 percent occupancy level for restaurants instead of hiding the action. “It’s pretty sad going into Indiana and seeing billboards of Gov. Whitmer as the Indiana person of the year,” he said.
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