Saginaw Catholic Diocese Delegate, County Prosecutor Have Common Goal: Protecting Minors

By Sarah Jaeger
Fox 66
May 2, 2018

http://wsmh.com/news/local/saginaw-catholic-diocese-delegate-county-prosecutor-have-common-goal-protecting-minors

The Diocese of Saginaw’s independent delegate meeting for the first time with the Saginaw county prosecutor and the assistant prosecutor Wednesday morning.

Michael Talbot, a former appeals court judge, was appointed to the role in mid-April after the arrest of Fr. Robert DeLand for allegedly sexually assaulting minors.

Talbot told NBC25/FOX66 the meeting this morning started off bit tense but gradually relaxed when both realized they have a common interest, namely protecting minors.

Talbot tasked with leading the church’s internal investigation into the alleged abuse and says he spoke with everyone in the diocese to see if there’s anything he should know about. He claims nobody spoke up with any new information and shared that with prosecutor office which he hopes will do the same.

“I’m concerned if there’s anybody else and I asked if there is please let me know,” say Talbot. “We want to take them out of ministry but conversely if there isn’t anything I think the people of this county have a right to also know that that there is nothing else beyond the case that’s out there already.”

The prosecutor office declined to comment on today’s meeting but has previously issued a statement asking any victims to contact authorities and not the diocese.

Saginaw County assistant prosecutor Mark Gaertner, did speak out after Fr. DeLand’s preliminary hearing saying dozen of tips are still being called into his office.

As far as the material seized from the diocese and Bishops Cistone’s home in March, Talbot say he believes that all deals with Fr. DeLand’s case.

DeLand has bound over for trial on 3 counts of alleged criminal sexual misconduct. No trial date has been set.