Stetzer is a career prosecutor who has dedicated his professional life to public service. He joined the U.S. Attorney’s Office in 2018 and has since served as the First Assistant United States Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
During his 20+ years of combined service as a state and federal prosecutor, Stetzer has handled numerous criminal cases and has extensive experience in felony jury trials, including capital and non-capital murder cases.
“It is a great honor to serve the people of the Western District and to work with an incredible group of dedicated public servants,” Stetzer said. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office has a long legacy of fulfilling its mission to seek justice and to protect the rights and safety of the public, which I pledge to continue while serving in this new role.”
A former Gaston County prosecutor who handled some of the highest-profile cases will be the acting U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina, including the cities of Gastonia, Shelby and Charlotte.
William T. Stetzer, who lives in Gaston County, fills in the federal prosecutor role following the departure of U.S. Attorney Andrew Murray on Feb. 28.
Stetzer was an assistant district attorney in Gaston County from 2007 to 2010, during which time he handled the most serious of cases, including homicides, violent assaults, sexual assaults and crimes against children.
Stetzer joined the U.S. Attorney’s Office in 2018 and has since served as second-in-command to Murray as the first assistant United States attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.