Former Michigan priest pleads guilty to sexually assaulting 5-year-old after officiating memorial service for boy's family

A former Michigan priest pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a 5-year-old boy after officiating a memorial service for the boy's family more than 35 years ago, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced in a news release this week.

Vincent DeLorenzo, 84, a former priest with the Lansing Diocese, assaulted the boy "following a service he officiated for the boy's deceased family member" in 1987, the attorney general said. The Lansing Diocese removed DeLorenzo from the ministry in 2002, saying they have a "a zero-tolerance policy regarding sexual abuse of minors."

In exchange for DeLorenzo's guilty plea, additional abuse charges stemming from a larger investigation into clergy sexual abuse will be dropped, the attorney general said.