COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – Branch County Prosecuting Attorney Zach Stempien announced on Wednesday he is running for a second term. In a statement announcing his intentions, Stempien said his office, “had to navigate the difficult backlog caused by COVID-19, staffing shortages, and the numerous changes in criminal law spurred by various criminal justice reforms. In the face of this adversity, my office has continued to fight for a safe and secure community by obtaining hundreds of lengthy prison sentences, increasing the rate of convicting Defendants of the most serious charged crime, and creating procedures and policies that prioritize victim needs and just results.”
He added, “When I ran for Prosecuting Attorney in 2020, I promised to move Branch County forward. Over the past three years, my office has made great strides to accomplish that goal. However, the work is not done and my passion to continue to move Branch County forward is as great as ever.”
Stempien’s office has been criticized by some community members for putting together to many plea bargain agreements. He defeated former Branch County Prosecutor Terri Norris in the August 2020 Republican Primary and was unopposed in that year’s November general election.
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