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Five new counts against former St. John Catholic teacher appearing in court Wednesday

Posted at 11:06 AM, Oct 28, 2020
and last updated 2020-10-28 11:06:46-04

LANSING, Mich. (WSYM) — The office of Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced new sexual assault charges against a former St. Johns Catholic School teacher.

Joseph (Josef) Comperchio, 66, is charged with with five new counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct involving two individuals. Four of the counts occurred when the victims were under the age of 13, and the fifth was while the victim was physically helpless – second-degree criminal sexual conduct–injury to incapacitated victim. All charges are 15-year felonies.

“My office stands committed to seeking justice for all of those who have been assaulted or taken advantage of and we will continue to review the circumstances in each case with careful scrutiny and file charges when the evidence demands it,” said Nessel. “I continue to be encouraged by the victims who come forward to share their experiences, which are undoubtedly difficult stories to tell and serve as a reminder to the rest of us that the pain which can be inflicted when predators prey on the vulnerable remains long after the reported incident.”

The former drama and music teacher is accused of the sexual abuse while instructing at Saint John Catholic School in Jackson. The incidents reportedly occurred between 1975 and 1977 when the victims were between the ages of 9 and 11.

It is all a part of state Attorney General Dana Nessel’s clergy abuse investigation.

In September, Comperchio was arrested in Fort Meyers, FL on the first set of charges. He waived extradition and was returned to Michigan on Oct. 1.

Comperchio is scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday at 2:00 p.m. on the new charges in Jackson County 12th District Court.

WSYM will continue to update this story as more information is made available.