Attorney General’s office handling case against priest due to Jackson prosecutor’s close ties to Catholic community

MICHIGAN
MLive

By Theresa Ghiloni | tghiloni@mlive.com
on June 01, 2015

JACKSON, MI – A former Jackson priest is being charged with 13 counts of criminal sexual conduct for alleged crimes 30-years later to ensure “justice delayed is not justice denied” for the victims in the case, the Attorney General’s office said.

The case against James Rapp, 75, is being handled by Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette’s office at the request of the local prosecutor, Jackson County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Kati Rezmierski said.

Prosecutor Jerry Jarzynka requested a special prosecutor to avoid a possible conflict of interest, Rezmierski said, as he has close ties to Jackson Lumen Christi High School, where Rapp taught during the alleged assaults. Rezmierski said Jarzynka’s children attended the school and his wife works there.

The Attorney General’s office agreed to step in as a special prosecutor.

Rapp served as a priest, teacher, maintenance supervisor and wrestling coach during his time at Lumen Christi High School from 1980-86, when the alleged crimes occurred, according to a statement from Schuette’s office.

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