Court to Hear Arguments about Pastor's Testimony

Green Bay Press-Gazette
February 8, 2012

http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/usatoday/article/38526865?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|GPG-News|p

DETROIT (WTW) — The Michigan Court of Appeals will hear arguments about whether a pastor's testimony related to a possible confession in a child sexual assault case may be used in court.

The Detroit Free Press reports (http://on.freep.com/wpBJxq) a three-judge panel hears the case Thursday.

Court documents say Samuel Bragg confessed in 2009 to the Rev. John Vaprezsan at Metro Baptist Church in Belleville about the 2007 assault of a 9-year-old girl. Vaprezsan testified in March in the case against Bragg, who is charged with first-degree criminal sexual conduct.

Bragg denies making the confession.

Bragg was ordered to stand trial, but Wayne County Circuit Judge Cynthia Gray Hathaway tossed Vaprezsan's testimony. She says it violated state law saying no priest or pastor shall be required to disclose confessions made in their professional capacity.