10:34 p.m.
It’s been almost exactly four years since search warrants were first delivered, and in that time Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has issued charges for 44 Michigan priests, 38 of which were employed or incardinated by the Diocese of Marquette.
“I’m announcing the release of a report by my department concerning allegations of abuse that took place in the Diocese of Marquette,” Attorney General Nessel said. “The report contains detailed descriptions of allegations of sexual abuse and other sexual misconduct. Including grooming against minors and adults going back to the 1950s.”
Eleven of the charges have been priests in the Marquette Disocese, but due to the statute of limitations, or in some cases the death of the priest involved, two have been prosecuted. One resulting in a conviction while the other is still pending.
“On behalf of the church, I offer a sincere apology to anyone who has been abused by clergy in the Catholic church. You are and should have been our priority. There is no excuse what happened to you,” Bishop John Doerfler of the Diocese of Marquette said.
The Attorney General’s office has secured seven convictions statewide giving justice to 38 survivors.
“Their willingness to come forward helped bring attention to an issue that has affected so many in our state and so many in our country, including children,” Attorney General Nessel said.
The state has hired a full-time victim advocate to support the hundreds of victims that have come forward. They say if you have any information about abuse in the Catholic church to reach out to the state’s hotline.
“In the end, we hope this report provides voice to those who have suffered in silence for so long and shines a light on those alleged offenders who escaped punishment for their crimes by hiding in the shadows,” Attorney General Nessel said.
2:41 p.m.
A new report from the Michigan Attorney General’s office lays out a long history of abuse allegations at the Marquette Catholic Diocese.
The report is made up of victim interviews, police investigations, documents, tips to the Attorney General’s office, and disclosures from the diocese.
The Attorney General’s office says all seven Michigan dioceses agreed to cooperate with the investigation, and their willingness to pass along reports of abuse has been instrumental.
Michigan State Police were able to put together a list of accused priests after carrying out search warrants at the dioceses back in October 2018.
42 troopers, five officers from other law enforcement agencies and 15 special agents from the Attorney General’s office seized 220 boxes of papers and more than 3.5 million digital files.
The accusations of sexual abuse and other sexual misconduct, including grooming and misuse of authority against children and adults, goes all the way back to 1950.
Of the 44 priests on the list, 38 were employed or incardinated by the Diocese of Marquette.
Criminal charges against many of the accused are no longer possible because of the Statute of Limitations or because the priest has died.
The Attorney General’s office plans to release reports for each of the dioceses.
They have issued criminal charges in 11 cases across the state so far, with two related to priests at the Diocese of Marquette.
- People v. Vincent DeLorenzo – Scheduled for pretrial on Nov. 21, 2022.
- People v. Joseph “Jack” Baker – Baker was found guilty of one count first-degree criminal sexual conduct and is scheduled for sentencing on Nov. 2, 2022.
- People v. Neil Kalina – Kalina was found guilty of two counts second-degree criminal sexual conduct. He was sentenced to 7 to 15 years in prison.
- People v. Gary Berthiaume – Berthiaume pleaded guilty to two counts second-degree criminal sexual conduct and no contest to one count gross indecency. He was sentenced to 17 months to 15 years and 17 months to 5 years in prison.
- People v. Gary Jacobs – Jacobs, formerly of the Diocese of Marquette, pleaded guilty to three counts first-degree criminal sexual conduct and one count second-degree criminal sexual conduct in Ontonagon County. He was sentenced to 8 to 15 years in prison with lifetime sex offender registration. Jacobs pleaded guilty to second-degree criminal sexual conduct in Dickinson County. He was sentenced to 8 to 15 years in prison with lifetime sex offender registration.
- People v. Joseph Comperchio – Comperchio, an organist, pleaded guilty to one count first-degree criminal sexual conduct and three counts second-degree criminal sexual conduct. He was sentenced to 10 to 20 years in prison.
- People v. Brian Stanley – Stanley pleaded guilty to attempted false imprisonment and was sentenced to 60 days in jail, probation, and sex offender registration.
- People v. Patrick Casey – Casey was charged with one count third-degree criminal sexual conduct and pleaded guilty to aggravated assault. He was sentenced to 45 days jail and one year of probation.
- People v. Timothy Crowley – The case was originally dismissed in court in 2019. The Michigan Court of Appeals reinstated three of the charges. The defense has filed for an appeal to the Michigan Supreme Court.
- People v. Roy Joseph – Joseph was charged with one count first-degree criminal sexual conduct while ministering in the Diocese of Marquette. He is awaiting extradition from India.
- People v. Jacob Vellian – Vellian was charged with two counts of rape under the previous criminal sexual conduct statute. He is awaiting extradition from India.
You can read the .
Please send any tips to the investigation hotline at 844-324-3374 or by email to aginvestigations@michigan.gov
Victims in need of additional resources should contact 855-VOICES4 (855-864-2374).
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