A Catholic priest has entered a plea in Allegan County Circuit Court.
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel says that 57 year old Father Brian Stanley of Coloma plead guilty Wednesday to a felony charge of attempted false imprisonment during a pre-trial conference.
Stanley was charged in August regarding an incident that happened at St. Margaret's Church in 2012. Stanley allegedly wrapped a teenage boy in plastic wrap and put masking tape over his eyes and mouth. He then left the boy alone in a janitor's room for a time before coming back and letting him go.
Stanley's August arrest was made after Nessel seized files from the Diocese in October 2018. It showed the victim's family asked Stanley to council their son. Other files showed Stanley had been engaging in this type of conduct for decades.
Stanley has served a number of parishes in Southwest Michigan, including at St. Charles Borromeo Church in Coldwater and at Our Lady of Fatima Church in Union City. In February of 2017 Coldwater City Manager Keith Baker says they were contacted by a representative of the Kalamazoo Diocese of the Catholic Church, requesting an investigation into possible criminal conduct alleged to have been perpetrated by Stanley.
Coldwater Police started an investigation into alleged conduct that the Diocese says occurred between 2002 and 2004. Officers determined that no further action could be taken at that time because the alleged victim did not wish to participate in the investigation.
Stanley will be sentenced on January 27, 2020. He faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison and will be required to register as a sex offender for 15 years.
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