Cold Case Cracked: Former Michigan Priest Charged with 1980s Sex Abuse

By Kevin Vanderkolk
WLNS
January 12, 2015

http://wlns.com/2015/01/12/cold-case-cracked-former-michigan-priest-charged-with-1980s-sex-abuse/


After more than 30 years, Attorney General Bill Schuette today announced his Criminal Division has charged James Francis Rapp, 74, currently in prison in another state, with multiple felonies for his alleged sexual assault of several Michigan boys in the 1980s.

Schuette filed three felony counts of First Degree Criminal Sexual conduct and 10 felony counts of Second Degree Criminal Sexual conduct. If Rapp is convicted of the first degree counts, he must register as a sex offender for the rest of his life in Michigan.

In spring of 2013, more than 30 years after the alleged crimes occurred, two of Rapp’s victims reported the alleged sexual abuse to the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department, who then launched an extensive investigation revealing several more victims.

Rapp served as a priest, teacher, maintenance supervisor, and wrestling coach at Jackson Lumen Christi High School in Jackson, Michigan from September 1980 through February 1986. Prior to coming to Jackson Rapp held teaching positions in Philadelphia (1959-1961), Salt Lake City (1968 – 1973), and in Lockport, New York (1979 – 1980). Following Rapp’s resignation from Jackson Lumen Christi in 1986, Rapp served as a priest and teacher in Naperville, Illinois (1987 – 1990) and Duncan, Oklahoma (1990 – 1998).

He is currently in prison in another state for convictions occurring in Oklahoma in 1999. He is eligible for discharge in summer 2016. Attorney General Schuette will immediately begin the extradition process to bring Rapp to Michigan to face charges.