GARY JACOBS

LANSING, MI - A former Upper Peninsula priest was sentenced to eight to 15 years in prison in a second child sexual abuse case for crimes he committed in 1984. Gary Jacobs, 75, was sentenced today, July 14, in Dickinson County on one count of second-degree criminal sexual conduct, state officials said. Several charges involved a child between 13 and 16 years old and one charge involved a child younger than 13. Last month, former Catholic school music teacher Joseph Comperchio pleaded guilty to sex abuse charges that will result in at least a decade in prison. As of October, the investigation into sexual abuse in Michigan’s Catholic churches had identified 454 accused priests and 811 victims, and led to charges against 11 clergymen.

A former priest has been ordered to spend eight to 15 years in prison in connection with the sexual abuse of teens in the 1980s in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

ONTONAGON COUNTY, MI – A former Upper Peninsula priest sat in court this week and heard from his victims before receiving a sentence of 8-15 years in prison for sexual abuse he committed in the 1980s. He was sentenced Tuesday, May 25, by Judge Michael Pope in Ontonagon County Circuit Court to 8-15 years on each count, including the second-degree charge, which will be served concurrently, The Daily Mining Gazette reports. Jacobs’ sentence hearing served as a platform for his victims – now in their 50s and 60s – to speak. I’ve already endured more than 40.”In addition to the prison sentence, Jacobs will be a lifetime registered sex offender, will have lifetime electronic monitoring and is required to attend sex offender counseling. Prior to the plea agreement, Jacobs was facing four separate sexual abuse cases in Ontonagon County.

That came just one month after Jacobs pleaded guilty to four counts of criminal sexual conduct in Ontonagon County. Both pleas were part of a plea agreement reached by Jacobs and Attorney General Dana Nessel’s office. “I am proud of the work done by our clergy abuse team to reach this plea agreement,” Nessel said. In Ontonagon County, Jacobs’ sentencing date is set for Tuesday, May 25, while his Dickinson County sentencing has been scheduled for Friday, July 2. READ MORE:Michigan’s clergy abuse probe identifies 454 accused priests, 811 victimsRetired Grand Haven priest defrocked after ‘credible’ sexual abuse allegation, diocese says

A former Upper Peninsula priest who left Michigan years ago has pleaded guilty to a remaining sexual abuse case against him.

ONTONAGON COUNTY, MI – A former Upper Peninsula priest pleaded guilty today to four counts of criminal sexual conduct, which will result in the harshest prison sentence thus far in the Michigan Attorney General’s clergy abuse investigation. He was facing four separate sexual abuse cases and his plea agreement required that he plead guilty to the highest charge in each case. RELATED: Two former Upper Peninsula priests charged with with sex crimesThe plea agreement in the Ontonagon cases states that Jacobs will serve eight to 15 years in prison. RELATED: Judge denies accused priest’s request to throw out confession in sex crimes caseThe case was investigated by the Michigan Attorney General’s clergy abuse investigation team. This plea agreement will result in the harshest prison sentence thus far in the Michigan Attorney General’s clergy abuse investigation.

A former Michigan priest will serve several years in prison after pleading guilty to four criminal sexual conduct charges.

LANSING, MI – A Michigan judge recently denied a request to throw out a confession from a priest accused of sex crimes. Jacobs, 75, was in court on Friday, Dec. 4, for a Walker Hearing during which the Ontonagon County Circuit Court judge denied Jacobs’ request to throw out his confession. RELATED: Former Michigan Catholic priest charged with additional child sexual abuse chargesFour of Jacobs’ five cases are in Ontonagon County. Jacobs is scheduled to appear in Ontonagon County Circuit Court on Dec. 18 for a pretrial hearing before Judge Michael Pope. Last week, another Michigan judge died a request from an accused priest who wanted to leave the state to return home despite a $50,000 cash/surety bond.