Evergreen Reporter

United States Attorney Mac Schneider and Grand Forks County State’s Attorney Haley Wamstad have announced the appointment of Assistant State’s Attorney Rachel Egstad as a Special Assistant United States Attorney under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). This move comes after the U.S. Justice Department designated Grand Forks as a jurisdiction of focus, emphasizing firearms prosecutions for domestic violence offenders.

Egstad's role will involve prosecuting intimate partner firearm violence cases in federal district court while maintaining her duties as a state prosecutor. "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," said Schneider. He emphasized that having an experienced state prosecutor like Egstad would enhance community safety by targeting dangerous individuals for federal prosecution.

Wamstad expressed appreciation for the opportunity to leverage federal resources in seeking justice for victims of intimate partner violence. She noted that this collaboration would help identify and prosecute the most lethal offenders in their communities.

ATF Special Agent in Charge Travis Riddle highlighted the importance of tackling domestic violence linked with illegal firearms possession. "As the primary federal agency responsible for investigating firearms crimes, ATF's expertise is vital in ensuring that violent offenders are barred from possessing weapons," he stated, welcoming Egstad's appointment to strengthen these efforts.

Coiya Tompkins Inman, president/CEO of the Community Violence Intervention Center, praised the partnership with Egstad and the US Attorney’s Office. She noted that it provides powerful tools for legal and law enforcement partners while enhancing safety for survivors whose partners may illegally possess firearms.

Egstad's appointment follows Grand Forks' designation as one of 78 communities nationwide under Section 1103 of the Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization Act of 2022. The Justice Department is collaborating with each designated jurisdiction to develop plans aimed at reducing intimate partner firearm violence and prioritizing prosecutions under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g).

In response to this designation, several local entities including the USAO, ATF, Grand Forks County State’s Attorney’s Office, Grand Forks Police Department, Grand Forks Sheriff’s Office, and Community Violence Intervention Center have convened to discuss implementation strategies. Egstad will work closely with these groups to guide investigations and prosecute domestic violence offenders prohibited from possessing firearms.