Parishioner Arrested, Priest Suspended in Sex Case

13 ABC
February 13, 2012

http://www.13abc.com/story/16918199/parishioner-arrested-priest-suspended-in-sex-case

MOUNT CLEMENS, Mich. (AP) - The Archdiocese of Detroit has temporarily suspended a priest at a Mount Clemens church where a 19-year-old parishioner is accused of criminal sexual conduct involving a 14-year-old girl.

The archdiocese says there are no allegations of abuse against the priest, but it believes Rev. Michael Cooney didn't promptly report what he knew to law enforcement.

Macomb County Sheriff Anthony Wickersham tells The Macomb Daily that 19-year-old Michael Lentini was arraigned Friday on third-degree criminal sexual conduct charges. He's free on bond.

Neither Cooney nor Lentini has a listed phone number.

Wickersham says the girl told a school counselor about the alleged sexual contact with Lentini at St. Peter Parish in December. He says her mother contacted Cooney, then the sheriff.

Cooney told the archdiocese of the sheriff's investigation in December.