Man with ties to Ray Township Catholic school, church faces computer sex abuse charges

By Frank Defrank
Macomb Daily
November 26, 2014

http://www.macombdaily.com/general-news/20141126/man-with-ties-to-ray-township-catholic-school-church-faces-computer-sex-abuse-charges

Sturza

A Macomb Township man with ties to a local Catholic high school and a church faces multiple felony charges for inappropriate communication with a child that police characterize as child sexual-abuse activity.

Joseph Peter Sturza, 47, was arraigned Wednesday on four counts, including child sexual abuse activity, a 20-year felony. He also is charged with two counts of communicating with another person to commit a crime and accosting children for immoral purposes.

During an arraignment via video link between the Macomb County Jail and Romeo’s 42-2 District Court, bond for Sturza was set at $50,000. He was ordered to return to court at 9 a.m. Dec. 9.

Sturza worked as director of admissions at Detroit Austin Academy, a parochial high school of 59 students in Ray Township. He also served as a youth minister at St. Isidore Catholic Church in Macomb Township.

In a letter distributed to parents of academy students Wednesday, Principal Janel Coppens and the Rev. Christopher Talbot, board of directors chairman, said the administration is “deeply troubled” by the allegations.

“Please be assured that Austin Catholic High School has taken this matter with the utmost seriousness and is, and has been, cooperating fully with law enforcement authorities and with the archdiocese,” officials said.

In a separate statement, the Archdiocese of Detroit echoed the academy’s concern and said Sturza no longer works for the school or the parish.

According to the Macomb County Sheriff’s Office, law enforcement authorities began an investigation Nov. 19 after the archdiocese presented them with emails directed toward a child. The electronic communication was intercepted by the child’s parents.

The emails were “sexually graphic and were indicative of child-sexual abuse activity,” the sheriff’s office noted in a news release. Macomb County Sheriff Anthony Wickersham said investigators uncovered no evidence Sturza met with the child.

Wickersham said the attentiveness of the parents to their child’s emails, and the quick response by the Archdiocese of Detroit, “put the wheels in motion” on the investigation.

“As soon as the Archdiocese became aware of the allegations, they immediately took steps to remove the man from his position and they secured evidence,” the sheriff said.

Detectives interviewed witnesses and turned over the results of their investigation to the Macomb County prosecutor. On Tuesday, the prosecutor authorized a warrant for Sturza’s arrest.

“These abhorrent allegations shock the conscience of all citizens, regardless of faith, and serve to remind us all to remain vigilant for our children, no matter the circumstances,” Macomb County Prosecutor Eric Smith said in a news release.

According to the Archdiocese of Detroit, Sturza was employed at Austin Academy since October 2012 and part-time at St. Isidore since last summer.

The archdiocese said it also notified two other parishes where Sturza formerly worked: St. Francis of Assisi-St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish in New Haven; and St. Mary Mystical Rose Parish in Armada.

Though he retired a few years ago, Sturza was also known as host of a news show broadcast on SHTV, the public access arm of the City of Sterling Heights Community Relations office.

Persons with information related to this case are asked to contact the Macomb County Sheriff’s Office Enforcement Team at 586-493-4861.