Area News Headlines
These news headlines brought to you by these fine sponsors:
Tuscola Prosector Erica Walle Resigns Citing Issues With Judges
Mary Drier/Mike Kaufman
Sun, 18 Oct 2026 02:26:18 EDT
 |
click on the picture to enlarge
|
Tuscola County Prosecutor Erica Walle, has announced her resignation.
She will leave office on Oct. 25.
Walle cited a hostile courtroom environment and exceptionally lenient sentences handed down by local judges.
Walle gave her resignation to 54th Circuit Judge Amy Grace Gierhart.
Among the reasons for her decision, Walle expressed frustration with the district and circuit court judges, accusing them of treating attorneys with hostility and disrespecting crime victims.
She claimed the judges thwarted law enforcement efforts with lenient sentences, particularly in cases involving child sexually abusive material.
Walle highlighted specific cases where judges allegedly issued departure sentences that she claims left victims without justice.
One of the cases Walle pointed to was a case that happened in 2021 before she took over as prosecutor.
Michael Damiani was arrested and faced 50 charges of sharing child sexual assault material.
Court records show more than 40 of those charges were dismissed. Damiani was sentenced to 18 months, whereas sentencing guidelines recommend 51 to 85 months, according to Walle.
Walle was the county's first female prosecutor. She has served in that position less than a year.
Another core issue was Walle being in a dating relationship with a sheriff department detective, which local judges viewed as a conflict of interest.
