Marquette County Prosecuting Attorney Staff

Matthew J. Wiese, Chief Prosecuting Attorney, received his BS from Northern Michigan University in 1984, and his JD from Vermont Law School in 1987. He previously served as the Chief Assistant Prosecuting Attorney and has over 20 years of prosecution experience. Throughout his career in prosecution, he has specialized in prosecuting domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and other crimes of personal violence. He assisted in developing and promoting a county-wide law enforcement domestic violence policy which has been in effect in Marquette County since 1994.  Mr. Wiese is active in the Marquette Community volunteering his time and was recognized by the NMU Alumni Association in 2005 with the Civic Leadership Award.  He currently teaches at NMU as an adjunct professor with the criminal justice department and at NMU’s Regional Police Academy.  He also conducts legal update seminars for law enforcement annually throughout Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. 

Cheryl L. Hill, Chief Assisant Prosecuting Attorney, is a Marquette native, a graduate of Northern Michigan University and was the recipient of NMU's Outstanding Young Alumni Award in 1998. She received her Juris Doctorate from Marquette University in Milwaukee WI in 1987 and was admitted to the Wisconsin Bar and the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin in the same year. Ms. Hill began her law practice in Milwaukee and returned to the UP in 1990. Ms. Hill was admitted to the Michigan Bar as well as the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan in 1990. Since returning to the UP she has practiced civil law as well as appellate law in both Wisconsin and Michigan. In 1994 she was awarded the Thomas M. Cooley Law Review Distinguished Brief Award for excellence in appellate advocacy. In 1993 Ms. Hill was admitted to the bar for the Supreme Court of the United States of America. Hill served as  Chief Civil/Appellate Counsel to the County of Marquette from 2001 to 2011.

Andrew G. Griffin is an Assistant Prosecutor.  He handles criminal cases for the Prosecuting Attorney.  A Marquette native, he joined the office in January, 2011, after nearly three years in private practice in Marquette.  From 2004-2008, he served on active duty as a Judge Advocate in the United States Air Force.  During the majority of his time in the Air Force he prosecuted and defended criminal cases while stationed in Okinawa, Japan.  He obtained his undergraduate degree from Michigan Technological University in 1998 and his law degree from Marquette University Law School in 2003.

David A. Payant is the head of the Family Support Division of the Prosecutor's Office. He is responsible for establishing paternity and child support orders for the citizens of Marquette County. He has been employed by the Prosecutor’s Office since 1982.  He served as County Civil Counsel from 1989-1996 and as Chief Assistant Prosecutor from 1996-2006. 

Glenn T. Sarka is an Assistant Prosecutor. He handles criminal cases for the Prosecuting Attorney. He rejoined the office after previously serving as an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney from 1997-2000. In the interim he worked overseas as a liaison to the State Department providing advice to Iraq and Afghanistan government officials.

Judd R. Spray is an Assistant Prosecutor. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University Of Michigan’s College Of Literature, Science and the Arts and his Juris Doctor from the University of Michigan Law School.  Mr. Spray has a broad base of prosecutorial trial and appellate experience having been previously employed as an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney in Jackson and Ingham counties and as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Western District of Michigan.  In addition Mr. Spray received a gubernatorial appointment to serve as a Workers’ Compensation Magistrate for the Michigan Department of Labor.  Mr. Spray handles delinquency cases in the Juvenile Division and felony cases in the Circuit Court as assigned.

Cindy Boyer is the Office Manager and Victim/Witness Coordinator for the Prosecutor's Office. She began her career with the Prosecutor’s Office in 1983 and has worked extensively with victims of crime since 1988. Ms. Boyer has received special training through the Prosecuting Attorneys Association of Michigan, as well as various trainings sponsored by the National College of District Attorneys. Ms. Boyer currently supervises the clerical staff of the Prosecutor's Office.

Audrey Wright is the Family Support Specialist for the Family Support  Division.  She is responsible for calculating child support recommendations for the courts.  She has been working for the Prosecutor’s Office for 17 years.

Janice DeMarte is the Legal Secretary for the Family Support Division. She is responsible for service of process, paternity DNA testing and related clerical duties.  She joined the Prosecutor’s Office in 2006.

Jill Jarvi is one of the support staff employed by the Prosecutor’s Office.  She joined the office in July, 1997.  She left for a short time to work for the District Court, and returned to the staff of the Prosecutor’s Office.

Sandra Place is one of the support staff employed by the Prosecutor’s Office.  She joined the office in June, 1994 after working for a private attorney.

Lisa Place is one of the support staff employed by the Prosecutor’s Office.  She joined the office in 2010 after previously working for the Friend of the Court’s Office.