Macomb County Marks Arson Prevention Week Amid Rising Arson Cases

Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office
Contact: Dawn Fraylick, Communications Director
Office: +1 (586) 469-5737 
Cell: +1 (586) 842-4421                                           
Email: Dawn.Fraylick@macombgov.org       

October 7, 2024               

Macomb County Marks Arson Prevention Week Amid Rising Arson Cases

Macomb County, MI – As part of Arson Prevention Week, the Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office is highlighting the growing threat of arson in the county and the steps being taken to combat this dangerous crime. Arson cases have been on the rise, with 19 cases reported in 2021, 21 in 2022, and a sharp increase to 39 in 2023. So far in 2024, 26 arson cases have been charged, underscoring the need for more effective prosecution and community awareness.

One of the most recent cases involves Jesse Dennis Hayden Humphrey, who was charged after allegedly setting his girlfriend’s home on fire following an argument. The incident, which occurred on Sunday, September 22, 2024, resulted in the complete destruction of the home and the tragic deaths of two cats inside. Fortunately, the victim was not at home during the fire. Humphrey has been charged with two counts of Second Degree Arson, each carrying a 20-year sentence, and Killing Animals in the Third Degree, a four-year felony. Under Michigan law, intentionally killing animals is punishable by up to four years in prison, which is the maximum penalty available for animal deaths.

"We are seeing a disturbing rise in arson cases in Macomb County," said Macomb County Prosecutor Peter J. Lucido. "The destruction caused by arson not only endangers lives and property but can also devastate families and communities. Our office is committed to aggressively prosecuting those responsible for these serious crimes."

The Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office has been actively addressing the increase in arson cases by ensuring that assistant prosecutors receive specialized training in arson prosecution. This includes hands-on experience with fire investigations and expert witness testimony, preparing them to handle the complexities of arson cases in court.

Another recent arson case involved Zachary Zielonka, age 31, who pled no contest to all charges related to a 2023 arson incident. On Thursday, September 7, 2023, Zielonka broke into the victim’s garage in Richmond Township and set fire to a vehicle inside, causing significant damage. Zielonka was charged with Second Degree Arson, a 20-year felony, and Home Invasion in the First Degree, a 20-year felony. In June 2024, Zielonka pled no contest to both charges, and Macomb County Circuit Court Judge Julie Gatti sentenced him to 30 months to 20 years in the Michigan Department of Corrections.

"These cases are tragic reminders of the destructive power of fire and the importance of preventing arson in our communities," Lucido added. "Arson Prevention Week is an opportunity to raise awareness about the consequences of arson and to encourage the public to report suspicious activities that could lead to these dangerous fires."

Macomb County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Sian Hengeveld received recognition for an arson conviction in 2023. The Michigan Chapter of the International Association of Arson Investigators (MIAAI), a professional association of fire investigation experts, awarded Chief of Trials and Circuit Court Sian Hengeveld the Prosecutor of the Year Award for 2023 after the conviction of Dangelo Hubbard. Sian Hengeveld and Anthony Sorentino conducted a five day jury trial on this murder and arson case. On April 24, 2023, Dangelo Hubbard of Detroit was found guilty on all charges in the death of Lisa Marrone after Hubbard stabbed the victim over 75 times and inflicted blunt force trauma to her head resulting in her death. The next day Hubbard returned to the victim’s residence and set it on fire.

The Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office is taking a proactive approach in handling arson cases. This is not the only improvement Prosecutor Lucido has made since January 2021.  Other progress includes:

• 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 Agressively Reduced Warrants -The Macomb County Prosecutor’s Child Protection Unit has reduced pending warrant requests to 15, the lowest all year, 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 $1.3 million for Macomb County children since last year 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 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 getting 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.
  
   

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