BishopAccountability.org

Saginaw Diocese says Nouvel teacher departure not related to sex abuse probe

By Michael Kransz
MLive
April 3, 2018

http://www.mlive.com/news/saginaw/index.ssf/2018/04/band_teacher_no_longer_employe.html

Nouvel Catholic Central Head Coach Dave Valasek gives tips on how to bunt during baseball team practice on Wednesday, April 12, 2017.
Photo by Jeff Schrier

A Saginaw Diocese teacher is no longer employed at his high school and officials are assuring parents it's not related to the ongoing investigation into sexual abuse by priests.

School officials announced this week that Dave Valasek, a baseball coach and band teacher at Nouvel Catholic Central High School, is no longer employed due to a "personnel matter," according to a letter sent out to parents Wednesday, March 28.

"Please be assured that this matter does not involve Mr. Valasek's relationships with students and is wholly unrelated to the recent issues involving the Saginaw Diocese," the letter from Mark Frost, the high school's principal, read.

The letter did not say whether Valasek was fired or resigned.

To date, only one diocese priest, the Rev. Robert DeLand, has been criminally charged. He was arrested Feb. 25 on accusations he sexually assaulted two males -- a 21-year-old and a 17-year-old -- in his Saginaw Township condominium.

Another diocese priest, Rev. Ronald J. Dombrowski, was suspended by the diocese in mid-March after they received a report he allegedly sexually assaulted a person when they were a minor. He has not been criminally charged.

Following DeLand's arrest, the Saginaw County Prosecutor's Office to form a special investigative team to coordinate and investigate allegations of abuse involving "officials" within the Catholic Diocese of Saginaw.

The investigation ramped up March 22 with raids on the bishop's home on Corral Drive in Saginaw Township, the rectory at Cathedral of Mary of the Assumption in Saginaw and the Catholic Diocese of Saginaw offices in Saginaw Township.

Prosecutors alleged the diocese failed to fully cooperate in the investigation, prompting them to seek and execute the search warrants.

Contact: mkransz@mlive.com




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