Lucido Names Leonetti as Chief Assistant Prosecutor, Signals Continued Reform and Progress

Contact: Dawn Fraylick
Office: +1 (586) 469-5737 
Cell: +1 (586) 842-4421                                  
Email: Dawn.Fraylick@macombgov.org

 February 3, 2025

Lucido Names Leonetti as Chief Assistant Prosecutor, Signals Continued Reform and Progress

Mount Clemens, MI - Today Macomb County Prosecutor Peter J. Lucido named Robert A. Leonetti as his Chief Assistant Prosecutor, the second-highest position in the prosecutor's office, continuing his mission to reform and modernize the county prosecutor’s office. As a seasoned attorney and former Macomb County Commissioner, Leonetti brings a strong record of legal expertise, public service, and a commitment to accountability and transparency. Under Michigan law, the chief assistant performs the duties of the office in case of the absence, disability, or sickness of the prosecuting attorney.

Leonetti, a lifelong Macomb County resident, and East Detroit High School graduate, brings a wealth of legal expertise and public service to the role.  Leonetti spent more than 28 years in private practice, specializing in criminal defense, family law, real estate, and bankruptcy. He holds a Juris Doctorate from Wayne State University, where he also earned a BA in Political Science, Summa Cum Laude with Honors.

Lucido described Leonetti's appointment as pivotal to the ongoing transformation of the prosecutor's office, which Lucido has led since 2021. 

“Robert Leonetti has a deep understanding of Macomb County, as a public servant and as a legal professional,” Lucido said. 

Leonetti echoed Lucido's sentiment, praising the prosecutor’s office for its progress in recent years. “Under Prosecutor Lucido’s leadership, the office has gone from turbulent times to a national award-winning model of good governance,” Leonetti said. 

Leonetti has witnessed the Prosecutor’s Office improvements firsthand. “As a defense attorney, I can say Prosecutor Lucido’s improvements, and the resulting benefits to the public, are self-evident,” he said. “From hiring talented prosecutors to implementing cutting-edge technology and modernizing the office to reforms that increase access to justice, the office improved service for everyone involved in the justice process.”

In addition to his legal credentials, Leonetti served four years on the Macomb County Board of Commissioners, representing Harrison Township and St. Clair Shores. He has experience with the county budget process. As Vice Chair of the commission’s finance committee, he focused on budget transparency, protecting Lake St. Clair, and expanding senior and veterans' services. 

He also testified in the Michigan Attorney General’s criminal corruption case in which the former Macomb County prosecutor was ultimately convicted, where Leonetti emphasized the importance of adhering to county commission resolutions compelling financial accountability and transparency.

“I’ve always believed that good governance starts with being a good steward of taxpayer dollars,” Leonetti added. “As a commissioner, I worked to ensure the county was transparent and our budget was spent wisely. As Chief Assistant Prosecutor, I’ll continue that focus by helping Prosecutor Lucido lead an office that serves justice efficiently, economically, and ethically.” 

During his time on the Macomb County Commission, Leonetti helped to establish the County’s Freedom of Information Act policy. Leonetti also supported legal action by Commissioners against the Macomb County Executive, which contested contracts and change orders that were part of a $9 million overrun approved by the county executive office for renovations after a 2013 County Building fire, according to a 2018 Detroit Free Press article. This included a contract change order signed by the County Executive’s office for over $300,000, for which no approval was requested or obtained from the County Board, according to the board's court filing. The commission’s attorney at the time said the board was asking the court to declare that contracts over $35,000 have to come before it before they’re approved and effective. In 2012, the County Executive was forced by the Michigan Court of Appeals to follow the county contracting ordinance. The County Executive’s resistance in that case cost taxpayers $320,000 in legal fees, according to the Detroit Free Press.  Now in 2025, the County Executive is overseeing contracts worth hundreds of millions of dollars for a new county jail and is in court again, this time racking up legal fees to oppose the County Commission’s efforts to get real-time access to county financial data. That case remains pending before the Michigan Supreme Court.

The Macomb County Prosecutor's Office, which Lucido has called the county’s largest law firm, employs 91 full-time and part-time assistant prosecutors and a total staff of 140, operating on a budget exceeding $15 million. Leonetti’s appointment signals a continuation of the reforms Lucido began four years ago, aimed at restoring public trust and enhancing the office's efficiency.

“I was raised here and continue to make Macomb my home. I’m passionate about ensuring it remains a great place to live and work,” Leonetti said. “I’m excited to help Prosecutor Lucido fight for crime victims and our most vulnerable residents, fight for criminal accountability, and fight for budgetary transparency, to continue the progress.”

Lucido, who inherited a department marred by scandals under a previous administration, has emphasized that his office will remain focused on justice and integrity. “We’ve come a long way, but there’s still work to be done,” Lucido said. 

Lucido said Leonetti’s appointment reflects his broader vision for the prosecutor’s office. “Together, we will continue to build an office that Macomb County residents can be proud of, where justice is served fairly, transparently, and with integrity.”

Leonetti said, “The accomplishments of Prosecutor Lucido and his team are almost too long to list. I’m honored to have the opportunity to support and work with such talented people.”

Progress Under Prosecutor Peter J. Lucido
Leonetti’s appointment continues a trajectory of excellence and innovation established under Prosecutor Lucido’s leadership. Recent accomplishments of the Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office include:

• Auto Theft Unit Achieves Milestone - The Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office Auto Theft Unit has achieved a milestone by reducing all pending auto-related warrant requests to zero, despite handling an increased number of complex Continuing Criminal Enterprise (CCE) cases. The Unit's progress is especially significant given the rise in CCE cases, which require more resources and involve numerous underlying crimes.
• Warrant Unit Process Faster Than Ever Before  - The Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office Warrant Unit has significantly improved the efficiency of processing adult warrant requests, reducing the number of pending requests to record lows, despite an increase in police submissions. The Warrant Unit focuses on expediting cases ranging from misdemeanors to serious felonies like armed robbery and assault with intent to murder.
• Record Efficiency in Drug Unit - The Macomb County Prosecutor’s Drug Unit has reduced pending drug warrant requests to a record low of just one. The swift processing of drug cases balances public safety with rehabilitation efforts like drug courts for low-level offenders and supports the fight against the opioid crisis enhancing community safety.
• Child Protection Unit Aggressively Reduced Warrants  -  The Macomb County Prosecutor’s Child Protection Unit has reduced pending warrant requests to 15, the lowest in 2024, despite a rise in sexual assault cases. This unit’s efficiency and dedication ensures quicker case resolutions for victims while holding offenders accountable.
• Child Support Collections Increased  -  Intensified efforts to collect child support from parents who owe $5,000 or more, successfully collecting over $1.8 million for Macomb County children since 2023 under this new initiative, with most collections done while avoiding criminal prosecution.
• Macomb County Prosecutor Shatters Glass Ceiling  -  Macomb County Prosecutor Peter J. Lucido hired a record number of women as assistant prosecuting attorneys, with women filling 70% of new positions in the past three years. A majority of all assistant prosecuting attorneys handling cases in the county are now women. Lucido also promoted a record number of women to lead special units within the prosecutor’s office. After implementing an objective hiring process, and a commitment to build a diverse and inclusive team to prosecute crimes and reflect the community we serve, Lucido successfully filled all assistant prosecutor positions despite a national shortage, a rarity for an office this size.
• Record Set for Fast Domestic Violence Warrant Processing  -   The Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office is processing domestic violence warrant requests more efficiently than ever, a significant improvement compared to the years before Lucido took office when warrant requests seeking domestic violence charges for out-of-custody defendants could accumulate.
• Victim Services Improved by 67%  -  More Macomb County crime victims get more help. The Macomb County Prosecutor's Office increased by ⅔ the percentage of crime victims receiving crucial support services compared to 2020, the year before Lucido took office. More victims now receive victim rights services, including but not limited to assigned victim advocates, help to get restitution, hearing notices, or other kinds of support.
• Criminal Charge Requests for Juveniles Reviewed Faster than Ever -  The Juvenile Unit is now authorizing or denying petitions at an unprecedented speed, with the number of pending requests reduced to the lowest levels in recent memory, supporting the broader goal of rehabilitating young offenders and protecting vulnerable children.
• Mental Health Assessments for Gun Crime Defendants  -  Started a first-in-Michigan policy requiring mental health assessments as part of bond conditions in all gun crime cases, using existing resources to provide an opportunity for mental health services before a suspect gets a chance to commit another crime with a gun.
• Hate Crimes Unit Launched  -  Created a Hate Crimes Unit, securing a vital U.S. Department of Justice grant paying 100% of all its costs, a distinction granted to only 16 organizations nationwide last year. Appointed Michigan's first and only solely dedicated hate crimes prosecutor at a county level, ensuring robust enforcement and community education.
• Conviction Integrity Unit Exoneration  -  Started this unit to investigate claims of innocence as a result of clear and convincing new evidence that the convicted defendant was not the person who committed the offense, and to review claims of factual innocence based on new evidence such as DNA.  This unit secured an exoneration.
• Major Crimes Unit Launched  -  Prosecutor Lucido organized the top-ranked assistant prosecutors to focus on major crimes and train more assistant prosecutors to handle these types of cases.
• Warrant Appeals Unit Launched  -  Established the state’s first formal prosecutor’s office unit allowing domestic violence victims (and all other crime victims) and law enforcement officials to have a second review of warrant requests where charges were denied.
• Digital Evidence Management Platform Implemented  -  With over 800,000 pieces of digital evidence, police agencies can now upload digital evidence, which the Prosecutor’s Office reviews, and defense lawyers can download directly, resulting in “discovery” information faster than it’s ever been provided.
• Increased Internships  -  Hosted over 200 law school and college interns. Court rules permit law student interns to handle court hearings under supervision, which helps the office serve victims and expedite cases.
• Paperless Crime Victim Rights  -  Implemented the county’s first paperless system for crime victims to request rights and notifications via text message or online.
• Police Training Provided  -  Regular training sessions by assistant prosecutors are conducted for every police agency in Macomb County, including updates on recent court cases.
• Enhanced Auto Theft Unit  -  Addressed a surge in attacks on car dealerships and manufacturing plants, prosecuting more continuing criminal enterprise cases in the past two years than in the previous decade, resulting in over $800,000 in restitution.
• Record number of national good government awards received  -   The National Association of Counties (NaCO) presented 26 awards to the Macomb County Prosecutor's Office during Lucido’s tenure.  The 12 awards received in 2024 is the highest (record) number of awards the organization has ever presented in one year. Under Lucido’s tenure, the office has earned 26 national awards for good governance, the most for any Michigan prosecutor, which reflects a commitment to transparency, innovation, and results.

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