John A. McColgan Jr.

Saginaw County Prosecuting Attorney

COURT HOUSE
111 SOUTH MICHIGAN AVENUE
SAGINAW, MICHIGAN 48602
CHRISTOPHER S. BOYD
Chief Assistant Prosecuting Attorney

For immediate release: March 8, 2018

Team established to investigate Catholic Diocese abuse allegations

Saginaw County Prosecutor John McColgan Jr. is announcing the formation of a special
investigative team to coordinate and investigate allegations of abuse involving officials
within the Catholic Diocese of Saginaw.

The Prosecutor’s Office will work alongside the Saginaw Township Police Department,
the Tittabawassee Township Police Department, the Michigan State Police, and various
other state and federal agencies.

The establishment of the team comes after the Prosecutor’s Office charged Rev. Robert
DeLand Jr. with multiple sexual assault offenses stemming from an investigation by the
Saginaw Township and Tittabawassee Township police departments. Since those charges
were issued, police agencies have received a number of tips regarding alleged abuse that
stretch from the 1970s to present day, said Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Mark
Gaertner.

The investigative team will handle the investigation of those tips.

“The investigation is not going to dwell on rumors,” Gaertner said. “We are going to
follow the evidence and go where it leads us.”

Those with information on alleged abuse occurring in Saginaw Township can call
Detective Scott Jackson at (989) 791-7226, while those with information on alleged
abuse occurring in Tittabawassee Township can call Detective Brian Berg at (989) 695-
9623. Anyone with information on alleged abuse occurring in other areas of Saginaw
County or in surrounding counties can call Michigan State Police Detective Sgt. Chris
Siegert at (989) 495-5555.

Tips can also be sent to abusetips@saginawcounty.com.

“We continue to encourage people to come forward,” Gaertner said. “We want to hear
from you; your tip is important. It is worth the effort, regardless of whether it is
anonymous. It is your choice, and we respect that.”

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PHONE (989) 790-5330 FAX (989) 792-0803 TDD (989) 790-5568