|
| Search Warrant Says Parents Feared Priest Was "Grooming" Their Son
By Bob Johnson
MLive
April 25, 2018
http://www.mlive.com/news/saginaw/index.ssf/2018/04/search_warrant_reveals_police.html#incart_river_mobile_index
A search warrant served on two residences of a local priest reveals new details into the investigation of the clergyman.
The Rev. Robert DeLand, commonly known as Father Bob, is facing sexual assault and drug charges relating to a teen and at least one other male in Freeland.
A search warrant for the St. Agnes Church Rectory, 335 Johnson St. in Freeland, and DeLand's condominium, 29 Mallard Cove in Saginaw Township, was made public by law on April 22, which was 56 days after DeLand's February arrest.
According to the search warrant, on Nov. 2, 2017, the teen boy's parents came to police with concerns that there was suspicious and inappropriate behavior toward their son by DeLand.
The parents said their son was assigned to do community service under DeLand for a minor-in-possession charge he faced. According to the parents, DeLand seemed to be stalking their son, according to the warrant.
The parents felt "Father Bob is possibly grooming their son for a homosexual relationship with him," the warrant states.
The 17-year-old Freeland High School student told detectives in Tittabawassee Township that DeLand's behavior "freaked him out."
With the permission of the teen's parents, police launched a covert investigation, which included audio surveillance of each interaction with DeLand. Both parents expressed concern for their son's safety, according to police reports.
Each interaction the teen had with DeLand ended with the priest giving him cash, according to the search warrant.
Alan Crawford, Deland's attorney, declined to comment for this story.
Here's a timeline of events, according to the search warrant:
Nov. 16, 2017
The teen was approached by DeLand during his 4th-hour gym class. DeLand asked the teen if he had $20. The teen told him he did not. DeLand then asked him to come to an empty room outside of the gym where he gave him $20 and asked for a hug.
Without warning, according to the warrant, DeLand started rubbing the teen's buttocks.
The teen told investigators he was "very upset and wanted to punch Father Bob."
Jan. 25, 2018
The teen met with DeLand and detectives heard, through audio surveillance, the priest encouraging the teen to smoke cigarettes. The teen expressed concern that his parents might smell it and DeLand told him that it could be masked with Febreze.
Within an hour, the teen smoked several cigarettes with DeLand. While they were smoking, DeLand told the teen multiple times that he loved him.
The visit ended with DeLand giving the teen $40 and spraying him with Febreze.
Jan. 31, 2018
About a week later, DeLand picked the teen up and drove him to his condo in Saginaw Township. DeLand gave him a pack of Marlboro cigarettes. The teen smoked several cigarettes and turned the rest over to police as evidence.
MLive
Michigan
Subscribe
Search
SAGINAW NEWS
Search warrant says parents feared priest was 'grooming' their son
Updated 8:48 PM; Posted Apr 23
6
Gallery: Robert DeLand arraigned on more charges related to criminal sexual conduct
38
805
shares
By Bob Johnson bob_johnson@mlive.com
SAGINAW, MI -- A search warrant served on two residences of a local priest reveals new details into the investigation of the clergyman.
The Rev. Robert DeLand, commonly known as Father Bob, is facing sexual assault and drug charges relating to a teen and at least one other male in Freeland.
A search warrant for the St. Agnes Church Rectory, 335 Johnson St. in Freeland, and DeLand's condominium, 29 Mallard Cove in Saginaw Township, was made public by law on April 22, which was 56 days after DeLand's February arrest.
According to the search warrant, on Nov. 2, 2017, the teen boy's parents came to police with concerns that there was suspicious and inappropriate behavior toward their son by DeLand.
The parents said their son was assigned to do community service under DeLand for a minor-in-possession charge he faced. According to the parents, DeLand seemed to be stalking their son, according to the warrant.
"No one is going to stand alone in this anymore," a detective said.
The parents felt "Father Bob is possibly grooming their son for a homosexual relationship with him," the warrant states.
The 17-year-old Freeland High School student told detectives in Tittabawassee Township that DeLand's behavior "freaked him out."
With the permission of the teen's parents, police launched a covert investigation, which included audio surveillance of each interaction with DeLand. Both parents expressed concern for their son's safety, according to police reports.
Each interaction the teen had with DeLand ended with the priest giving him cash, according to the search warrant.
Alan Crawford, Deland's attorney, declined to comment for this story.
Here's a timeline of events, according to the search warrant:
Nov. 16, 2017
The teen was approached by DeLand during his 4th-hour gym class. DeLand asked the teen if he had $20. The teen told him he did not. DeLand then asked him to come to an empty room outside of the gym where he gave him $20 and asked for a hug.
Without warning, according to the warrant, DeLand started rubbing the teen's buttocks.
The teen told investigators he was "very upset and wanted to punch Father Bob."
Jan. 25, 2018
The teen met with DeLand and detectives heard, through audio surveillance, the priest encouraging the teen to smoke cigarettes. The teen expressed concern that his parents might smell it and DeLand told him that it could be masked with Febreze.
Earlier Sunday, the Rev. Robert DeLand Jr. conducted mass at St. Agnes church in Freeland and renewed the vows of a couple who had been married 25 years.
Within an hour, the teen smoked several cigarettes with DeLand. While they were smoking, DeLand told the teen multiple times that he loved him.
The visit ended with DeLand giving the teen $40 and spraying him with Febreze.
Jan. 31, 2018
About a week later, DeLand picked the teen up and drove him to his condo in Saginaw Township. DeLand gave him a pack of Marlboro cigarettes. The teen smoked several cigarettes and turned the rest over to police as evidence.
They met in a Freeland grocery store parking lot where police observed the teen give DeLand the pills. DeLand, in turn, gave the teen $65.
Feb. 25, 2018
DeLand was arrested on Feb. 25 at his Saginaw Township condominium on accusations that he had molested the teen and a 21-year-old male.
Inside of DeLand's condo, police seized several bottles of alcohol. At the church rectory, police seized two laptops, a thumb drive, two passports and bank statements.
DeLand was charged with attempted second-degree criminal sexual conduct and gross indecency between males.
He was rearrested on April 6 and charged with single counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct causing personal injury, assault with intent to commit second-degree criminal sexual conduct, manufacturing or distributing an imitation controlled substance, and selling or furnishing alcohol to a minor.
Contact: bob_johnson@mlive.com
|