MICHIGAN
Upper Michigan’s Source
by Aaron Boehm
SCHOOLCRAFT COUNTY — No charges will be filed against the retired priest accused of sexual abuse against male minors which occurred in the late 1990s.
According to Schoolcraft County Prosecuting Attorney Tim Noble, sexual assault charges cannot legally be filed against Father James Menapace due to the statute of limitations. Michigan law states that crimes of this nature must be charged within 10 years of the offense date or before the victim’s 21st birthday, whichever is greater. Investigation has determined that both of these timeframes have passed.
The prosecutor’s office was made aware of the allegations in February of 2014. They referred the information to the Michigan State Police for investigation, who subsequently submitted the full report to their office.
The Catholic Diocese of Marquette released a press release on September 23 reporting that allegations of sexual abuse against Menapace were deemed credible. Menapace has been removed from all public priestly ministry and prohibited from presenting himself as a priest.
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