Feds Give Hoarding Mail Carrier a Break

CLINTON TWP., Mich. - A suburban Detroit mail carrier who had stashed more than 20,000 pieces of mail at his home lost his job but got a break from federal prosecutors.

The U.S. attorney's office says James Stempnik Jr. is in the third month of a yearlong diversion  program. A charge of stealing mail was dropped. He'll stay out of court if he follows certain conditions, including mental-health counseling.

In August, authorities found unopened mail in Stempnik's car, kitchen and garage in Macomb County's Clinton Township. His route was in Warren.

Stempnik didn't return a phone message seeking comment this week.

A Livingston County carrier was put on probation last year after pleading guilty to keeping mail in a storage unit. The U.S. attorney's office says each case is evaluated separately.