AG Nessel charges former Catholic School teacher for sexually assaulting minors
LANSING, Mich. (WILX) - Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced that multiple felony charges have been filed against a man who was employed as the drama and music teacher at St. John Catholic School in Jackson.
Two individuals came forward to report they had been victims of abuse at the hands of Joseph – or Josef – Comperchio who is 66. The incidents in both cases reportedly occurred while the victims were between the ages of 9 and 11, and between 1974 and 1977 while Comperchio was employed at the school. Comperchio was arrested Monday in Fort Myers, Florida.
He is facing a total of six charges:
- Two counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, a felony charge punishable by up to life in prison; and
- Four counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct, a 15-year felony.
Comperchio’s arraignment is expected at 9 a.m. Tuesday. He is being held without bond. Future court dates have not yet been set.
The Attorney General’s office said it is grateful for the cooperation and assistance of law enforcement agencies in Fort Myers, Florida, and the U.S. Marshals Service in the arrest of Comperchio.
The Michigan Department of the Attorney General said in a release that it seized 1.5 million paper documents and 3.5 million electronic documents through search warrants executed in October 2018. Including Comperchio, the Attorney General’s investigation has resulted in criminal charges being filed against 10 individuals connected to the Catholic Church.
Following the arrest and charge in Florida on Monday of Comperchio a spokesman for the Diocese of Lansing, David Kerr, released a statement.
“Last year, the Diocese of Lansing received a report of sexual abuse against Mr. Joseph Comperchio, who was alleged to be a teacher at Saint John Elementary School in Jackson during the 1970′s, the time of the alleged abuse,” the statement read. “The Diocese of Lansing encouraged the co....
Winter Appeal 2023
To our friends,
2023 has been a long year with many ups and downs for us all. As we close out the year, we at SNAP hope that you are feeling like you are on your way to being healthy, fulfilled, and happy. This past year has brought both successes and challenges. Thanks to the support you have shown in the past, we’ve been able to celebrate the good days and weather the stormy ones. Now, we are once again asking for your support as we work to support survivors new and old as we ‘Move SNAP Forward.’
At SNAP we are proud to have hosted a very well-attended conference in August 2023. This event allowed us to gather friends, survivors, advocates, and allies for a weekend of camaraderie and connection. We were so happy to be able to welcome many first-time attendees to gather in person and are already looking forward to the next conference.
To strengthen our movement for justice, healing, and prevention, SNAP will be expanding our peer support and providing more volunteer opportunities in the coming year. Through this great work, we are ensuring survivor voices are represented as we work for significant change that will benefit children and survivors.
Right now, survivors worldwide are getting the help they need from SNAP, and more and more reach out to us daily, but we need your help to keep those programs going and get our volunteers the training they need to thrive.
Your tax-deductible gift to SNAP can help offset the cost of our important mission. If you are not in a position to contribute, you can still support us by sharing this letter with those who can. As we continue to fight for survivors across the globe, your donation or sharing the great work SNAP does will help us continue our work to protect the vulnerable, heal the wounded, and prevent abuse.
Your donation ensures SNAP will be there for those who need us more than ever!
Warmly,
Michael W. McDonnell, C.P.S.
Interim Executive Director
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