Former Lumen Christi Teacher & Priest Sentenced Today on Child Sex Abuse Charges

WILX
April 29, 2016

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A former teacher and priest at Lumen Christi Catholic High School charged with sexually abusing boys will learn his fate today.

James Rapp will be sentenced this afternoon on sexual charges stemming from child abuse cases in the 1980s.

Rapp was a teacher, priest, and wrestling coach at the high school in Jackson County from 1980 through 1986, and that is when prosecutors say the abuse happened.

He was convicted in 1999 for sexually abusing boys in Oklahoma when he was a pastor there.

An investigation into Rapp for crimes in Mid-Michigan started in 2013 when two victims came forward and reported the abuse to the Jackson County Sheriff's office. Lumen Christi's principal calls the abuse a horrible tragedy.

Rapp is currently serving time on the sex charges in Oklahoma. He is now 75.

He took a plea deal in Jackson County, and in February pleaded no contest to six child sex abuse charges.

As part of that deal, he is expected to be sentenced to 20 to 40 years in prison.

Sentencing is this afternoon in Jackson County Judge Susan Beebe's courtroom. We will have an update after sentencing.