Michigan AG Nessel Authorizes CSC Charges Against Upper Peninsula Clergymen
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Contact: Kelly Rossman-McKinney 517-335-7666Agency: Attorney General

January 17, 2020

AG Office Adds First Full-time Victim Advocate

LANSING – Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel today announced criminal sexual conduct charges have been filed against two more priests by her department's Clergy Abuse Investigation Team.

Multiple charges have been filed in three Upper Peninsula counties against Gary Allen Jacobs and Roy Joseph, both former priests associated with the Catholic Diocese of Marquette.

Gary Allen Jacobs, 74, of Albuquerque, New Mexico, is charged with multiple criminal sexual conduct counts, with incidents reportedly occurring between the dates of Jan. 1, 1981 and Dec. 31, 1984 in Ontonagon County and between March 1, 1984 and April 30, 1984 in Dickinson County.

Jacobs faces a total of seven charges in two separate cases in Ontonagon County. He's being charged with six counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct involving a child between the ages of 13 and 16, and one count of second-degree criminal sexual conduct involving a child between the ages of 13 and 16. In Dickinson County, Jacobs faces one count of second-degree criminal sexual conduct involving a person under 13 years old.

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Jacobs faces up to life in prison and a lifetime of electronic monitoring for each of the first-degree criminal sexual conduct charges, and up to 15 years in prison for each second-degree criminal sexual conduct charge.

He was arrested Friday, Jan. 17 in New Mexico and will face extradition to Michigan to face the charges.

Roy Joseph, 52, previously of Marquette, has been charged in Marquette County with one count of first-degree criminal sexual conduct. The incident reportedly occurred on or about Feb. 21, 2006, while Joseph served as a priest in Marquette County. The felony crime is punishable by up to life in prison and a lifetime of electronic monitoring. He currently resides in India.

"Our team continues to vigorously pursue this investigation to ensure justice for the victims who courageously come forward and identify their abusers," said Nessel. "Our team of investigators are working day in and day out to hold these defendants accountable."

Victim Advocate Hired

The attorney general's office recently hired Paul Carbini as its first full-time victim advocate for the Clergy Abuse Investigation Team.

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Prior to joining the Criminal Division, Carbini served as the assistant director of direct services with Sexual Response at Columbia University in New York where he supervised advocates who maintained a 24/7/365 confidential helpline and provided crisis intervention and advocacy services to victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, stalking and other crimes.

He has experience working with the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps speaking to service members and conducting trainings on sexual assault, domestic violence and stalking. His career of being an advocate began with Sexual Aggression Peer Advocates at Central Michigan University.

To submit information about sexual abuse by a clergy member, please call 844-324-3374 (Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.), email aginvestigations@michigan.gov or submit information anonymously online.

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PLEASE NOTE: A criminal charge is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty. The Attorney General's office does not provide booking photos; however, one may be available through the booking agency.

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