SAGINAW (MI)
WNEM
March 13, 2018
By Jessica Royce
A teen is suing a Mid-Michigan priest, accusing him of engaging in “grooming” behavior before groping the boy at his condo.
Fr. Robert DeLand was charged last month with criminal sexual conduct after accusations from two males following an undercover investigation.
According to lawsuit filed on Monday, March 13, the teen, referred to as John Doe, met DeLand at a friend’s funeral in May 2017 when he was 16-years-old. The teen was court ordered to perform community service at St. Agnes Church where DeLand was a priest.
When the teen returned to school in the fall, DeLand was a volunteer “greeter” at Freeland Community School District and often participated in school events.
The lawsuit claims DeLand would allegedly remove the teen from class, “taking him to an isolated area of the school to talk,” and making the teen late for on a daily basis.
“DeLand also made inappropriate physical contact with John Doe during the school day, including back rubs, hugs and groping of the buttocks,” according to the court documents.
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