NORTH DAKOTA – United States Attorney for North Dakota Mac Schneider and Grand Forks County State’s Attorney Haley Wamstad announce Assistant State’s Attorney Rachel Egstad has been sworn in as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney under the Violence Against Women Act.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office says Egstad will focus on reducing intimate partner firearm violence in the Grand Forks area by bringing prosecutions in federal court while continuing to work full-time as a state prosecutor. Grand Forks was one of 78 communities nationwide to receive the designation.
“We are grateful to the Grand Forks County State’s Attorney’s Office for their partnership and commitment to working across jurisdictional lines to reduce intimate partner firearm violence and hold offenders accountable,” Schneider said. “Having an experienced state prosecutor on the ground in Grand Forks working with law enforcement and community partners to develop cases and target dangerous individuals for federal prosecution will protect families and help keep the community safe.”
“Our office appreciates the opportunity to utilize and leverage federal resources in seeking justice for victims of intimate partner violence in our jurisdiction,” Wamstad said “This multi-agency collaboration will be beneficial in identifying, investigating, and holding accountable the most lethal offenders of intimate partner gun violence in our communities.”
Egstad will work closely with law enforcement to guide investigations and bring charges against domestic violence offenders who are legally prohibited from having guns.
