Former Meridian Township Probationary Officer Alexander James Stachura Charged in CSAM Case; Charges Later Dismissed Without Prejudice.
Alexander James Stachura, identified in public reports as Alexander Stachura, was a probationary officer with the Meridian Township Police Department when he became the subject of a Michigan State Police Computer Crimes Unit investigation involving alleged child sexually abusive material.
According to reporting from WILX, Stachura was charged in December 2024 with three counts of possessing child sexually abusive material and three counts of using a computer to commit a crime. The investigation was handled by the Michigan State Police Computer Crimes Unit and Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force after authorities received information that led to a search of Stachura’s residence.
WHMI later reported that court records alleged digital evidence had been discovered on electronic media and that police said related material was also found on Stachura’s phone. The alleged offense dates reportedly ranged from October 2022 through October 31, 2024.
At the time of the investigation, Stachura was a probationary officer with Meridian Township Police. The department said Michigan State Police notified Meridian Township on October 29, 2024 that a criminal investigation involving Stachura was underway. According to FOX 47, Meridian Township placed Stachura on paid administrative leave, removed his access to township buildings, equipment, and computer devices, and later ended his employment on December 10, 2024 after learning felony charges had been filed.
Meridian Township Police Chief Rick Grillo said the department respected the criminal justice process and the presumption of innocence, but concluded Stachura could not reasonably fulfill his duties while the case moved forward. The township also said the matter created staffing strain because other officers would have needed to cover for the absent probationary officer.
The case took a major turn later. The Lansing State Journal, republished by AOL, reported that the charges against Stachura were dismissed on the same day a judge was scheduled to hear defense motions concerning search-warrant issues. A related Lansing State Journal social media post stated the case was dismissed without prejudice due to issues involving how evidence was handled.
That distinction matters. A dismissal without prejudice generally means prosecutors may be able to refile charges if legally sufficient grounds exist. It is not the same thing as an acquittal, and it is also not a conviction. As of the most recent reporting located for this story, Stachura should be treated as presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of competent jurisdiction.
The Stachura case is another example of why public reporting on police misconduct cases must track not only the initial arrest and charges, but also the later court outcome. Arrests and felony complaints are serious public records, especially when the accused person is a law enforcement officer. But dismissals, evidentiary challenges, plea agreements, convictions, and acquittals are equally important parts of the record.
Sources
- WILX: Former Meridian Township Officer charged with six child sex crimes
- WHMI: Former Police Officer Charged In Child Pornography Case Due In Court
- FOX 47: Meridian Township Police officer charged with computer crimes
- Lansing State Journal / AOL: Charges dropped against ex-Meridian Township cop in child porn case
Note: This article summarizes allegations, charges, employment action, and reported court developments based on publicly available sources. A criminal charge is not a conviction. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of competent jurisdiction.
