A federal judge could sentence Michael Zacharias, who is a priest in the Toledo Catholic Diocese, to a maximum of life in prison, according to the U.S. Justice Department. He inflicted cruel psychological harm, preying on their fears and forcing them to choose between submitting to commercial sex acts, or incurring the pain of losing a father figure or counselor, suffering withdrawal sickness, and risking sexual abuse of a loved one. priest Father Michael Zacharias. priest He was reassigned in 2017 to St. Michael The Archangel in Findlay, where he served until the federal charges were filed. Considering all that victims have suffered, all that the Church has endured due to the acts of her own members, all that we have done to protect children, to ensure a safe environment and to guard the integrity of the priesthood, still, sometimes, evil has its way, Thomas said. His first victim, a Toledo Catholic school student, went through abuse from Zacharias when the priest was in Seminary school. TOLEDO - Guilty on all five counts was the verdict Friday in the federal sex-trafficking trial of the Rev. priest Five counts pertaining to the trafficking of an adult were dismissed by prosecutors in August of 2021. priest Zacharias He was close. "He said he was sexting to avoid doing something physical.". "He explained away his confessional tape," Vercellotti said. TOLEDO - Guilty on all five counts was the verdict Friday in the federal sex-trafficking trial of the Rev. An official website of the United States government. FINDLAY - A former priest in Fremont is charged with sex trafficking minors, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. WebClosing arguments are expected to begin 9 a.m. Thursday A man accused of committing sex crimes while serving as a Roman Catholic priest in Mansfield and Fremont denied guilt from the witness stand Wednesday during his federal sex-trafficking trial. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Zacharias now faces 15 years of life imprisonment with mandatory restitution. Priest Michael Zacharias was indicted Thursday by a federal grand jury, charging him with sex trafficking involving a minor and an adult Former St. Michael's priest indicted "He said the victim was pursuing him for money.". priest Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the departments Civil Rights Division said the victims testimony explained how they submitted to Zacharias commercial sex solicitations because they feared the psychological harm of losing Zacharias as a father figure and friend, losing their connection to the church and God, and suffering the painful symptoms of opioid withdrawal that could be alleviated with the money provided by Zacharias to purchase drugs. Several parishes in northern Ohio, including those in the Toledo, Finlay, and Van Wert areas were reminded of that reality when on August 18, 2020, Father Michael Zacharias was arrested and charged with sex trafficking. Zacharias told the court Wednesday that he gave money to the men several times, not as payment for sex, but because they had asked him for financial assistance. US priest arrested on sex trafficking charges. The diocese said Zacharias was ordained a priest in 2002 and these are the first such allegations to be raised against him. FBI Cleveland - Lima Resident Agency Named One of Nine Newly Designated Counties to the ONDCP-funded High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) Program in the U.S. Golden Fresh Farms Greenhouse hopes to be rebuilt and operating again by September 2023, Lima's National Night Out to be held in Faurot Park this year, everyone is invited to the free event, Brisco proclaims his innocence as he is sentenced to 8 to 12 years in prison for rape, Body found in Indian Lake on the 4th was identified by Logan County Coroner, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Father Michael Zacharias. 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Michael Jude Zacharias, 56, was convicted by a jury of one count of sexual trafficking of a minor, two counts of sexual trafficking of a WebA local priest was convicted Friday on a series of federal sex crime, according to our media partner the Blade. He also said, however, that he was unaware of anyone else having been involved until he was alerted to the priests imminent arrest. Trigger Warning: This article mentions instances of s*xual abuse. The second video with a modified date describes Michael confessing his sexual attraction to the victim from Grade 6. Michael Jude Zacharias, 56, faces five counts of sex trafficking, two of which involve victims who were minors. The abuse began when Michael first approached him at a Catholic school in Toledo when he was in the Grade 6. A former Oklahoma undersheriff was sentenced to 22 months in prison and three months of supervised release for violating the civil rights of a handcuffed detainee without legal justification. Zacharias, 53, was a priest at St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Findlay prior to his arrest in August 2020 for crimes that occurred from approximately 1999 to July 2020. A registered nurse, she worked extensive overtime and private-duty jobs to support her household, but that usually meant the boys had to get themselves to school in the mornings, and all of them developed truancy problems in later years once they began using drugs. The Rev. "He said, 'if I have it, then I will give it freely; if I can help someone, I will.'". priest preyed on vulnerable, drug-addicted teens J Swygart - May 10, 2023 Zacharias File photo | The Lima News TOLEDO Testimony continued Thursday in the trial of Michael Zacharias, a former priest charged In between the two relatives, the jury heard much briefer testimony from Andrea Puhl, now the principal at St. Aloysius Catholic School in Bowling Green but who during Mr. Zacharias seminary assignment was a sixth- grade teacher at St. Catherines under her maiden name of Andrea Faust. The alleged offenses are said to have occurred between July of 2005 and August of 2020. FINDLAY - An affidavit filed in federal court alleges that a Toledo diocesan priest preyed on vulnerable men while he was a pastor in Mansfield and Van Wert. priest priest Michael Zacharias was on the phone with a boy he now stands trial for allegedly molesting for more than a decade both as a juvenile and as an adult when he Assistant Attorney General Clarke and First Assistant U.S. Attorney Baeppler made the announcement. Court documents from the U.S. District Court in Partly cloudy and cooler. The abuse continued over the years, into junior high and high school in exchange for money for his drug addiction. Michael J. Zacharias, age 53, with sex trafficking minors and sex trafficking both minors and adults by force, 10 counts in all. Michael Zacharias was indicted on five charges of sex trafficking. Vercellotti said the priest admitted in court to having sexual relations with several men, but that Zacharias maintained the behavior never happened with anyone under the age of 18. "Defendant further argues that 'grooming' is not a federal crime, or an element of any of the charged offenses, and is therefore irrelevant," the court document reads. Winds SW at 3 to 6 mph. Documenting the Catholic Sexual Abuse and Financial Crisis Data on bishops, priests, brothers, nuns, Pope Francis, Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Documenting the Abuse Crisis in the Roman Catholic Church Established June 2003, https://www.toledoblade.com/local/courts/2023/05/03/zacharias-priest-molestation-trial-alleged-victim-findlay/stories/20230503130. A federal judge could sentence Michael Zacharias, who is a priest in the Toledo Catholic Diocese, to a maximum of life in prison, according to the U.S. Justice Department. Sentencing has not yet been scheduled. Bishops Accused of Sexual Abuse and Misconduct. Priest The defendant overcame the victims resistance to his eventual commercial sex overtures by gradually sexualizing conversations and conduct with them. The police later identified the contact as Michael, a priest at St Michaels parish in Findlay, Ohio. "Any allegations of sexual abuse by a priest, deacon, staff member or volunteer affiliated with the Diocese of Toledo should first be reported to local law enforcement where the abuse is alleged to have occurred.". Prosecutors opposed the request, stating that the expert witness would help jurors better understand how Zacharias "recruited, enticed, obtained, and coerced all three victims into engaging in commercial sex acts.". Michael J. Zacharias, age 53, with sex trafficking minors and sex trafficking both minors and adults by force, 10 counts in all. Hear top stories from The Lima News on Alexa, J Swygart covers courts and police for The Lima News. Former Mansfield priest charged in sex trafficking Toledo Bishop releases statement after arrest of Jan. 23TOLEDO A February trial date for former priest Michael Zacharias on charges related to the alleged sex trafficking of adults and minors has been vacated and rescheduled for May 2 in U.S. District Court for the Northern Ohio. In addition, he is accused of using the drug addiction of his victims to coerce them into performing commercial sex acts. A federal judge could sentence Michael Zacharias, who is a priest in the Toledo Catholic Diocese, to a maximum of life in prison, according to the U.S. Justice Department. priest It is scheduled to resume Thursday morning, to be followed by the defenses opportunity to cross-examine him. This defendant betrayed the victims in the most inhumane way, Clarke said. Under cross-examination from defense lawyer Mark Geudtner, the mother acknowledged that her sons sometimes lied to her, and cash, jewelry, and other items often went missing. The forensic examination of the victims phone revealed sexual conversation with a contact name FrZ. priest The victim also handed over two videos - an action video and a confession-video made by Michael to the investigating officers. Dec 26, 2022 Updated Dec 26, 2022. The alleged victim described Wednesday afternoon just that scenario, stating that the priest paid him as much as $1,500 on several occasions. Priest Michael He served there from 1999 to 2000, after which he became associate pastor at St. Peter Parish, Mansfield, in 2002. Michael Zacharias, has been found guilty on all five counts in the federal sex-trafficking trial. According to the court documents, he continued to abuse victims while he served as a priest at various religious institutions in the Northern District of Ohio and elsewhere. He added that the indictment is a step towards serving justice for the victims, families and community harmed by the defendant and his alleged acts. This defendant is accused of using his status and position as a religious and community leader to seek out troubled minors and exploit their personal challenges for his own satisfaction, U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman said in the indictment. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. priest Michael J. Zacharias guilty on all charges against him including on sex trafficking of a minor and sex trafficking of an adult and minor by force, fraud, or coercion. The Rev. He remarks that even after the efforts of the Church to provide a safe environment, protect children and maintain the sanctity of priesthood: Even though Rev. He said: On learning of the Rev. The Diocese of Toledo has learned that Rev. The allegations span 15 years from July 2005 to August 2020. Michael Jude Zacharias, 56, was convicted by a jury of one count of sexual trafficking of a minor, two counts of sexual trafficking of a Priest priest Closing arguments in the case are expected to begin 9 a.m. Thursday, according to Claudia Vercellotti, leader of the Toledo chapter of Survivor's Network of those Abused by Priests, or SNAP. The pastor is charged with coercion and enticement, sex trafficking After several continuations, Zacharias was indicted in December 2022. FINDLAY - An affidavit filed in federal court alleges that a Toledo diocesan priest preyed on vulnerable men while he was a pastor in Mansfield and Van Wert. Zachariasbegan his career as a pastoral intern at St. Catherine Parish in Columbus from 1999-2000 before becoming an associate pastor at Mansfield's St. Peter Parish from July 1, 2002 to July 2, 2007. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. WASHINGTON A Catholic priest in Northwest Ohio is facing a minimum of 15 years in prison after he was convicted by a federal jury of five counts of sex trafficking. He was reassigned in 2017 to St. Michael The Archangel in Findlay, where he served until the federal charges were filed. Michael Zacharias, a former priest at Mansfield St. Peter's, was found guilty Friday on all five counts of sex trafficking against him. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement (updated 4/4/2023), Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (updated 7/1/2023). priest Zacharias has been on administrative leave since his arrest in August 2020. Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: You have permission to edit this article. priest Michael Zacharias The Rev. Michael Zacharias has been found guilty of U.S. Department of Justice Aug 19, 2020. A Catholic priest in Ohio is accused of several crimes related to sexual conduct with minors, federal authorities said. "The Diocese of Toledo has and will continue to cooperate fully with law enforcement throughout this process. But when she called the police, the officers typically gave a talking-to and nothing more. Federal attorneys added that "although 'grooming' is not a specific element of sex trafficking, the term is used to describe a variety of behaviors that appear calculated to prepare a child for a future sexual encounter," according to court documents. Michael J. Zacharias' arrest, the Bishop of the Diocese of Toledo, Daniel Thomas, placed him on administrative leave. Priest sex case on slower track | The Courier The federal sex trafficking case against the Rev. Michael Zacharias, 53, former Ohio priest who was arrested in August 2020, is facing a 10-count indictment with charges that include sex trafficking of minor, sex Why does he call all the time? Doctors and Health Care Giants Profited. Both the alleged victim and his mother, who also took the stand Wednesday and whose name The Blade also is withholding because of the familial relationship, testified that while the victim was in prison, Father Zacharias similarly preyed on the youngest of the three brothers, who like his elder siblings had recurring problems with drug addiction they blamed on their unstable home lives. He used his position as a clergyman to hide in plain sight, furnish drugs to at least one teen, and abuse him and others. (Hancock County Sheriff's Office) By WHIO Staff May 14, 2023 at 7:14 am EDT A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. WebPriest and the Pastor at St. Michaels Parish in Findlay, Ohio. WebThe Rev. Official websites use .gov 5 of the 10 original charges have been dismissed. Reach him at, Phone 419-223-1010 He seemed like a nice and normal person. "He saidthat was just a fantasy and that as a priest, he just needed an outlet.". Jesse James selects Dallas pastor Dr. Frederick Haynes as successor. Michael Jude Zacharias, 56,faces five counts of sex trafficking, two of which involve victims who were minors. Please logout and login again. Former Findlay priest Zacharias found guilty of sex trafficking He also believed submitting himself to the priest would protect others from becoming similarly involved. priest According to the code of Canon law, the Holy See will decide the future of his priesthood. Ohio Priest Michael Zacharias Preyed on Teen Drug Addicts for Toledo Catholic Diocese 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. The case will be presented to the Holy See who will make the final judgment, which will lead to a determination of Zacharias status as a priest, he said. FBI: Predator Priest in Ohio Abused Boys for Decades - The Daily The assaults are alleged to have occurred in the rectories or other pastoral homes at St. Peter Parish in Mansfield, Ohio; St. Mary of the Assumption Parish in Van Wert, Ohio, St. Joseph Parish in Fremont, and St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Findlay. priest A Federal Grand Jury in Cleveland on Friday handed down Michael, a 10- count indictment. U.S. District Judge Jack Zouhary ruled Wednesday that the defendant's motion "is denied.". The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Rev. He had been pastor at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church in Findlay since 2017 at the time of his arrest and had previously served as pastor at St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church in Van Wert, where at least some of the sexual acts allegedly took place, according to the federal indictment. They Lost Their Legs. Only after a resolution of the federal criminal charges against Zacharias has been reached, would the diocese then be able to pursue a canonical (church law) process regarding the matter.. He also admits that he was too scared to report the abuse because he felt like no one would believe him a young troubled drug-addict, over Zacharias, a respected Catholic Priest. Friday, May 12, 2023 For Immediate Release Office of Public Affairs A federal jury in Northern District of Ohio convicted Michael J. Zacharias, a priest, of five counts of sex trafficking. Another video, a confession dated Jan. 7, 2015, shows a man identifying himself as "Michael Zacharias" saying that when he was a seminarian he saw a manwho was in sixth grade at the time and he "knew" he wanted to perform oral sex on the boy. A superceding indictment removed all but five of the counts. In 2017, he was re-assigned to St. Michael The Archangel Parish, where he served until his arrest. "Only after a resolution of the federal criminal charges against Zacharias has been reached, would the diocese then be able to pursue a canonical (Church law) process regarding the matter," said Kelly Donaghy, diocesan spokesperson. Two of those counts involved victims who were minors. All rights reserved. "He denied thathe had any knowledge that any of them were addicted to anything.". The FBI cuffed Michael Zacharias, 53, after morning Mass at St. Michael the Archangel in Findlay. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Priest Michael Zacharias