Ex-Catholic School Official, Youth Pastor Charged With Child Sex Abuse Appears In Court
ROMEO (WWJ) - A 47-year-old Macomb County youth minister and Catholic school admissions director remains behind bars, facing sexual abuse charges after he allegedly sent sexually explicit emails to a student.
Joseph Sturza made a brief appearance in 42nd District Court in Romeo on multiple felony counts. He's charged with child sexual abusive activity, using a computer to communicate to commit a crime and accosting a child for immoral purposes. The sexual abuse activity charge is a 20-year felony. The computer charge carries a 15-year prison sentence.
A hearing that had been scheduled for Tuesday was delayed until Jan. 27.
Macomb County Sheriff Anthony said the graphic emails were intercepted by the student's parents alerted the school, which contacted the Archdiocese, which called authorities.
"Generations of parents and students have placed their trust and safety in the hands of this rogue parish administrator," Macomb County Prosecutor Eric Smith said in a statement, following Sturza's arrest late last month. "These abhorrent allegations shock the conscious of all citizens, regardless of faith, and serve to remind us all to remain vigilant for our children, no matter the circumstances."
Wickersham says that, according to investigators, it appears there was no actual contact between Sturza and the student.
"At this point it's only the talk and the enticing of the child. Our investigation has not uncovered any physical contact," Wickersham told WWJ Newsradio 950's Jon Hewett.
Wickersham said there's no indication so far that other students may have been involved, but the investigation remains open.
Sturza, who was dismissed from his job at the Austin Catholic Academy in Ray Township, also worked as a youth minister at St. Isidore Parish in Macomb Township, where he lives.
He remains held at the Macomb County Jail on a $50,000 bond.