INCOMING PROSECUTOR ANNOUNCES SHAKE-UP
Lucido names transition team; Assistant Prosecutor Cataldo reassigned
“For the last several weeks, my transition team and I have been meeting to create a plan that will best serve the needs of the victims of crime in Macomb County. Let’s face the facts, the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney is the largest law firm in the county and we need to hit the ground running and ready to go.”
— Macomb County Prosecutor-elect Peter Lucido, via a press release
Incoming Macomb County Prosecutor Peter Lucido Wednesday announced a part-time transition team and a shake-up in the office, including a change for one of the department’s top assistant prosecutors.
Lucido, a Republican state senator from Shelby Township, begins his new job as the county’s chief law enforcement official on Monday. His term as a senator ends at 11:59 p.m. today.
“For the last several weeks, my transition team and I have been meeting to create a plan that will best serve the needs of the victims of crime in Macomb County,” Lucido said in a news release. “Let’s face the facts, the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney is the largest law firm in the county and we need to hit the ground running and ready to go.”
Changes announced Wednesday include:
• A transition team consisting of former Shelby Township supervisor Ralph “Skip” Maccarone as chief assistant and James Langtry, a former assistant prosecutor, as deputy chief assistant
• Interim county prosecutor Jean Cloud will take a new role as chief of circuit court and trials
• The title chief of homicides, held by Assistant Prosecutor William Cataldo, will be eliminated. Cataldo will be reassigned as a trial attorney in Macomb County Circuit Court
• Bill Harding, a chief assistant under Cloud, will return to his previous title as a part-time special prosecutor as chief of internet crimes.
Both transition team members Maccarone and Langtry will serve in a part-time capacity and split the salary of one vacant position.
Lucido also said the title of chief of homicides currently held by William Cataldo will be eliminated. Cataldo will be re-assigned as a trial attorney in Macomb County Circuit Court. His title was created by former prosecutor Eric Smith, who resigned in March after he and three others were accused in an embezzlement scheme.
According to the release, Lucido plans to have homicide cases handled by a number of qualified assistant prosecutors.
Jean Cloud, who was appointed interim prosecutor following Smith’s resignation, will take on a new title of chief of circuit court and trials. She will also take on new duties including oversight of a new Conviction Integrity Unit. Further details will be released on the unit at a later date.
Finally, Bill Harding, an administrator under former prosecutor and now Circuit Court Judge Carl J. Marlinga, who was appointed by Cloud to serve as full-time chief assistant for the last nine months, will return to his previous title as a part-time special prosecutor as chief of inter
net crimes.
Langtry, initially hired over 30 years ago under Marlinga, served 13 years as Smith’s chief of operations and two years as his chief of staff until he retired in January. He was brought back Feb. 1 as a part-time special prosecutor.
He was fired by Smith for what he claims was in retaliation for cooperating with authorities investigating alleged illegal activity by Smith and other administrators.