Employee at Austin Catholic Academy in Ray Township arrested for child sexual abuse

WXYZ
November 26, 2014

http://www.wxyz.com/news/region/macomb-county/employee-at-austin-catholic-academy-in-ray-township-arrested-for-child-sexual-abuse

MACOMB TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WXYZ) - An employee at the Austin Catholic Academy in Ray Township has been arrested and charged in a child-sex abuse case.

Macomb County Sheriff Anthony Wickersham says 47-year-old Joseph Peter Sturza, a director of admissions at the school, was involved in child sex abuse activity.

According to the Sheriff, the computer-crimes unit started investigating on Nov. 19, after being contacted by the Archdiocese of Detroit.

Deputies received copies of e-mail that were found by a parents of a child. The e-mails were sexually graphic and indicated there was child sexual-abuse activity.

Wickersham says Sturza was arrested this morning and charged with four different counts counts.

Sturza was charged with Child Sexual Abuse Activity, a 20-year felony; two counts Computer-Communicating with Another to Commit Crime and Children-Accosting for Immoral Purposes.

He was arraigned at 42nd District Court in Romeo, and given a $50,000 bond.

Sturza is expected to be back in court on Dec. 9.