MICHIGAN
MLive
Apr 27, 2018
By Cole Waterman cwaterma@mlive.com
SAGINAW, MI — For the second time this week, a 17-year-old boy testified the Rev. Robert J. “Father Bob” Deland sexually assaulted him.
A teen who had testified Wednesday in a separate matter against DeLand retook the witness stand the afternoon of Friday, April 27, during two preliminary examinations. DeLand, 71, is a priest in the Catholic Diocese of Saginaw.
On Friday, the teen testified he had known DeLand as a hall monitor at his high school. In 2017, the teen had pleaded guilty to a charge of minor in possession of alcohol and was court-ordered to perform 25 hours of community service, with DeLand supervising.
The teen said on Nov. 16, DeLand took him out of class, something atypical of a hall monitor. DeLand took him to another room and gave him $20 and hugged him, the witness testified.
“As we were walking out of the room, he put his hand on my back and slid his hand down to my butt,” he said, adding he felt, “very uncomfortable and very angry. I wanted to punch him in the face.”
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