According to state officials, a former Michigan priest who was accused of assaulting a 5-year-old boy after officiating at a family burial ceremony in 1987 pled guilty to first-degree attempted criminal sexual conduct.
The case against Vincent DeLorenzo, who is 84 years old, was taken to the Diocese of Lansing, where he worked from 1965 to 2002, in 2018. It was one of eight complaints against him. In a deal with the state, he pleaded guilty to a lesser charge, and authorities dropped another case of sexual assault against a 5-year-old boy between 1995 and 2000. DeLorenzo will have to go on probation for five years and will have to sign up as a sex offender. In a statement released Tuesday, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said, “Our team continues to work day and night to end an era of abuse that has been hidden in plain sight for far too long and to bring justice to those who have suffered years of unimaginable trauma.” “This guilty plea will hopefully put an end to this painful chapter and give those who were hurt by DeLorenzo a chance to heal.”