Former priest bound over on CSC charges

By Garrett Neese
Daily Mining Gazette
May 22, 2020

https://www.mininggazette.com/news/2020/05/former-priest-bound-over-on-csc-charges/

ONTONAGON — A former Upper Peninsula priest accused of molesting children was bound over to Ontonagon County Circuit Court. 

Gary Jacobs, 74, had a preliminary hearing on Tuesday and Wednesday in 98th District Court in Ontonagon. No date has been set for his circuit court arraignment. 

Jacobs was also arraigned in Dickinson County’s district court Monday for similar charges there. He will be arraigned in circuit court next month. 

Jacobs faces eight counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct and two counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct. He also faces a second-degree CSC charge in Dickinson County. All stem from alleged incidents between 1981 and 1984 in which he is said to have abused his position as a priest.

First-degree CSC carries a maximum sentence of life in prison. Second-degree charges are punishable by up to 15 years.

In January, Jacobs was charged with seven criminal sexual conduct charges in three cases in Ontonagon County and one count of criminal sexual conduct in Dickinson County. After his initial charges, two more alleged victims came forward in Ontonagon County. 

He returned to Michigan in March for prosecution on the charges. His preliminary hearing had been scheduled for April but was delayed due to a reduced hearing schedule imposed by COVID-19.