MOUNT CLEMENS, MI — Macomb County Assistant Prosecutor Andres Villafane is leaving the office after more than five years to start his own juvenile law practice, Prosecutor Peter J. Lucido announced Friday.
Villafane, who joined the office in January 2020, worked in district and circuit courts before spending most of his tenure in the Juvenile Division. He credited Division Chief Tonya Goetz and his colleagues for their dedication and teamwork, saying he delayed his departure until completing several challenging trials to avoid leaving the unit short-handed.
“Andres has been a valuable asset to our office, and I know he will be very successful in this next chapter,” Lucido said. “I’m proud to see him going after his dreams, and I wish him nothing but the very best.”
Villafane, a graduate of Kalamazoo College and the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law, plans to work initially as a court-appointed defense attorney in juvenile cases in Macomb and Oakland counties. He said he hopes to bring fresh ideas to the field and make a positive difference in the lives of young people.
“Prosecutor Lucido and the entire team run a well-organized office that gives attorneys the tools, guidance and support to succeed,” Villafane said. “That professionalism made my time here both rewarding and memorable.”
Lucido said the prosecutor’s office encourages professional development for attorneys and staff, even when it means losing employees to opportunities in the private sector with potentially higher pay.
Villafane’s departure comes as another assistant prosecutor leaves to run for Congress. The prosecutor’s office will soon post two vacancies, one of them grant-funded.
Despite a national shortage of public prosecutors, Lucido said his office, the third largest in the state, has had few vacancies in the past year, a turnover rate lower than other county departments and prosecutors’ offices in Michigan. He said openings are typically filled faster than in comparable offices. The staff now includes 78 assistant prosecutors, including two positions soon to be posted on the county website for applicants. Lucido credited the office’s retention and recruitment success to its collaborative culture.
“Talented people like working with talented people,” Lucido said. “We are always looking for talented people to help us make Macomb County Your Safe Home.”
The Michigan budget for 2024-25 includes $17 million to help counties fill assistant prosecutor vacancies, which remain common elsewhere in the state.
Macomb County prosecutor’s staffer departs for law school
Colleen Benoit, an office assistant with the Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office, is leaving to begin her first year of law school this fall.
Benoit coordinated intern projects during her tenure and helped bring a one-week training program from the Prosecuting Attorneys Association of Michigan to the office’s student interns for the first time. She also worked to improve the office’s handling of jail call procedures, streamlining operations and aiding case preparation.
“Colleen brought energy, professionalism and a fresh perspective to our office,” Prosecutor Peter J. Lucido said. “Her contributions, especially the way she supported our intern program and helped modernize operations, have been outstanding. We thank her for her service and wish her all the best as she begins law school. She’s going to be a great lawyer.”
Benoit said her experience reinforced her decision to pursue a career in law. “This isn’t just a government office. It’s a place where good people are doing meaningful work for the community every day,” she said. “From day one, I was encouraged to take initiative and contribute. It’s a place that values new ideas and genuinely supports its people.”
Benoit said she plans to remain in Michigan and may return to public service as a prosecutor.
As Villafane and Benoit move on to new chapters in their careers, Lucido praised their contributions and highlighted the office’s commitment to supporting professional growth while serving the community.
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Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office
Contact: Esther Wolfe, Communications Director
Office: 586-469-5737
Cell: 586-842-4421
Email: esther.wolfe@macombgov.org
