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Northern Michigan priest arrested in sexual misconduct case

Posted at 3:16 PM, Feb 20, 2017
and last updated 2017-02-20 15:16:45-05

A Roman Catholic priest is in jail in northern Michigan in a sexual misconduct investigation.

The Presque Isle County prosecutor says he won't comment until after an arraignment Tuesday. But radio station WHSB says Bishop Steven Raica discussed the matter Sunday night with members of St. Ignatius Church in Rogers City.

Raica says the Rev. Sylvestre Obwaka denies the allegations. Raica says he's "searching for the truth." Obwaka, a native of Kenya, has been pastor at St. Ignatius since July 2013. He's been a priest since 2010.

The bishop's office in Gaylord didn't return a call seeking comment Monday.