Mayor says it’s time to talk about sex abuse

FINDLAY (OH)
The Courier

August 22, 2020

By Denise Grant

Findlay Mayor Christina Muryn didn’t mince words after learning of the arrest of the Rev. Michael Zacharias, pastor of St. Michael the Archangel parish, Findlay.

In a statement issued before noon Tuesday, the day of the arrest, Muryn said the Findlay Police Department will cooperate fully with the investigation.

“I am distraught by the news of the arrest of Father Michael Zacharias. These allegations are not taken lightly, and the Findlay Police Department and our community at large will support the full and thorough investigation by the FBI. Such abuse of power, and perversion of sexuality is unacceptable and cannot be tolerated by any organization, individual, or society,” said Muryn.

As of Tuesday, Muryn said the city’s police department was not involved in the investigation, and has no information that St. Michael’s School or its students were involved.

Zacharias, 53, was taken into federal custody Tuesday from his home at 2008 Greendale Ave. by the Northwest Ohio Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force. He made an initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Toledo on Tuesday. He is being held in federal custody without bail.

He is charged with sex offenses involving two former students of Catholic schools in Toledo over a period of years.

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