Patrick Casey, 56, now of Bellaire, was originally charged with third-degree criminal sexual conduct in May following allegations of improper sexual contact with a young man who approached him for counseling. During his trial, Casey accepted a plea deal and entered a guilty plea to misdemeanor aggravated assault on Oct. 2.
He was sentenced in Third Circuit Court by Judge Wanda Evans.
Following his sentencing, he was immediately remanded to the Wayne County Jail to begin his 45-day sentence.
The man who complained about Casey alleged the two had a sexual encounter on Jan. 17, 2013. He told the court at the sentencing hearing that he never wanted Casey to serve as a priest again.
“I needed help. I needed a shepherd. He could have called the police when I mentioned my suicide attempt. He could have taken me to the hospital himself. That's what I needed.”
In a sworn statement, the man testified that when he was in his 20s and gay, he met Casey and sought the rite of confession. He said that the priest met with him in his office at the former St. Theodore of Canterbury Church in Westland and they engaged in sexual acts, including oral sex.
Casey admitted to the sexual acts during an investigation by Archdiocese officials who recommended his dismissal from the clerical state. He was defrocked Aug. 1, 2018 while the Vatican continues to review his case, according to Michigan State Attorney General Dana Nessel who brought the charges against him.
