Fr. Brian L. Stanley

In August 2019, the Michigan Attorney General made an announcement regarding charges against Stanley for the crime of false imprisonment. Back in 2013, Stanley was placed on leave following an accusation that he had forcibly held a teenage boy captive in the janitor’s room at St. Margaret’s. The disturbing incident involved Stanley wrapping the boy in plastic wrap and using masking tape to cover his eyes and mouth. It was revealed that the boy’s parents had actually requested Stanley’s counseling services. Shockingly, diocesan records indicated that Stanley had been engaging in this sexually motivated behavior for numerous decades. Despite a police investigation in 2013, no charges were filed, and Stanley was reinstated. However, he was removed from his position once again in January 2017 due to additional allegations. Eventually, Stanley pleaded guilty and was sentenced in a plea deal on January 27, 2020. The sentence included 60 days in jail, five years of probation, and a requirement to register as a sex offender for 15 years. The Attorney General also disclosed that three other victims had come forward, with one alleging abuse at the age of 13.