Fr. Gerald John Vesnaugh

Expelled from the priesthood in 1975 due to his despicable acts of child molestation, this individual faced legal consequences in 1979 when he was convicted and given a suspended sentence along with two years of probation. His law license was subsequently suspended in 1980 and ultimately revoked in 1982. Despite these penalties, he found himself facing charges once again in 1981, this time for three counts of sexual assault. After serving a portion of his 5- to 15-year sentence, he was released from prison. However, his relocation to Oklahoma in 1996 only led to further trouble as he offended once more and was promptly arrested. In an attempt to evade justice, he fled to Canada, where he continued his abusive behavior towards two young boys and was subsequently apprehended. As a result, he was sentenced to three years in prison in 1996. These heinous actions have earned him a place on the Detroit archdiocese’s list of individuals who have been credibly accused, as of June 10, 2019.