DETROIT – A former Metro Detroit priest will spend 45 days in jail after pleading guilty to an aggravated assault charge.
Patrick Casey, 56, of Bellaire, pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor count of aggravated assault in early October and is the first defendant in Attorney General Nessel’s clergy abuse investigation to be convicted.
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At sentencing, a survivor gave his impact statement before the court saying, “What always hurt the most was that I was suicidal and he did nothing to help me … I was drowning, I needed help, I needed a shepherd.”
Casey will begin serving his sentence immediately. He remains temporarily removed from all public, priestly ministries while his case is under review at the Vatican.
Casey, who was a priest at St. Theodore of Canterbury Parish in Westland, was arrested in May in Oak Park, Michigan.
Previous coverage: 6 Michigan priests charged in clergy abuse probe: What we know
The Michigan AG’s office offered updates on other cases in the probe:
- Brian Stanley – A final pretrial conference is scheduled for 1 p.m. today in Allegan County Circuit Court. A trial date will be set at a later date. Defendant is out on bond with a tether.
- Joseph Baker – Trial begins Thursday, Feb. 20, 2020, in Wayne County Circuit Court. The Defendant is out on bond with a tether.
- Timothy Crowley – The case was dismissed in Washtenaw County District Court. The Department of Attorney General filed claim of appeal in early November and a brief is due in mid-December.
- Vincent DeLorenzo – The preliminary exam scheduled for Nov. 15 in Genesee County District Court was adjourned and a new date has yet to be set. Defendant remains out on bond.
- Neil Kalina – A preliminary exam was adjourned on August 27 in Macomb County District Court. At the court date, the defendant’s attorney requested that his client be evaluated to determine if he is competent to stand trial and if he was criminally liable at the time of the assaults. The defendant remains in Macomb County Jail.
- Jacob Vellian – Status unchanged.