Ohio priest who sex-trafficked boys he met in preschool given life sentence

Michael Zacharias’s victims said the priest waited until they began abusing drugs before he sexually trafficked them

A Roman Catholic priest received a life sentence on Friday for his convictions on five counts related to sex-trafficking charges in the molestation of three boys whom prosecutors say he met at an Ohio preschool and coerced to continue sexual activity as adults.

Michael Zacharias, 56, received concurrent, maximum life sentences for counts of sex trafficking a minor and sex trafficking of a minor by force, fraud or coercion. He received concurrent 20-year sentences for two counts of sex trafficking of an adult by force, fraud or coercion, and one of similarly trafficking a minor.

Harpsist,

But is it an eternal life sentence?

Yes. Yes it is. Because he believes in a cruel punishing God who absolutely loves eternal suffering and torment.

And life is what you believe in.

twisted28,

He endorsed Trump and Johnson on his way out of court

LEDZeppelin,

Ohio. The state that re-elects Gym Jordan every 2 years

Dark_Arc,
@Dark_Arc@social.packetloss.gg avatar

Hey no. The state does not elect that [insert your own expletives here], just one heavily gerrymandered district. That guy would not stand a chance in a state wide election and he knows it.

There’s a reason the Republicans are so keen on keeping our state heavily gerrymandered; they would not get near the representation they do without their dirty tricks, and with a bit of luck within the next couple of years the map drawing process will be ripped out of their hands by another ballot measure.

JoMiran,
@JoMiran@lemmy.ml avatar

Allow priest to get married and maybe you get more applicants from outside the sexually frustrated pedophile bucket.

flambonkscious,

Hell yeah. I can’t believe the blind spot they have about this. Of course abstinence creates problems. I understand their rationale, but it’s so willfully naïve it’s almost like they’re working with an ulterior motive

assassin_aragorn,

I don’t think abstinence is driving them to be pedophiles, but that the Church won’t oust pedophiles. Their reaction to all these stories wasn’t a joint investigation with governments to find all instances of abuse and prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law – it was to circle their wagons, keep it a secret, and just internally “discipline” them.

It’s the same reason why Republicans seem to so often turn up pedophiles. The mentality of “keep it all in the family” leads to the sick fucks not being kicked to the curb, because they don’t want anyone to hear about it. They have a culture of covering up abuses instead of loudly denouncing them.

JoMiran,
@JoMiran@lemmy.ml avatar

You misunderstood my comment. I believe that abstinence keeps many people from pursuing a life in the church. To an incredibly lesser degree It is also possible that a life of celibacy might attract certain pedophiles who are battling their urges. Use the church as a way to seek refuge from temptation.

assassin_aragorn,

Oh I see. Yeah I agree.

rambling_lunatic,

Alas, the fundies seem to have problems with their priests too. I’ve seem more headlines of them diddling adults than kids though. Progress!

stopthatgirl7,
stopthatgirl7 avatar

I got as far as “met in preschool” in the headline and my brain stuttered to a halt and filled with obscenities.

I hope that dude rots. May he never know a moment of peace in person and spend every moment looking over his shoulder in fear someone’s finally coming to beat him into pulp.

Kit,

If it’s any consolation, they weren’t preschoolers. It was a click bait headline and the kids were around 18 when this happened. Not saying it’s not still heinous, but at least it’s not drug-addicted toddlers.

Gekoloniseerd,

Yeah anybody knows anything Epstein??

Szymon, (edited )

The far right has self identified that they’re against these things. With their sense of consistency which isn’t hippo critical hypocritical at all, I’m sure the Catholic Church will have a lot of gun toting red hats protesting at their front door now, right?

Mouselemming,

Hypocritical

Voice typing error?

Szymon,

Lol thanks for pointing that one out

HuddaBudda,
HuddaBudda avatar

(he) commercial sex overtures by gradually sexualizing conversations and conduct with them. At the same time, the victims were developing serious opiate addictions, using pain medication and, later, heroin. (the priest) waited to propose commercial sex until he knew the victims were so heavily involved in drug abuse that it was impacting their daily lives, physical and mental well-being and ability to maintain a stable school or work life.

This guy needs to be sent to hell with the force of a super nova.

This is also your monthly christian reminder:
Priests: 15+
Drag queens: 0

synae,
@synae@lemmy.sdf.org avatar

Hell’s not real, so justice must be pursued during his time on earth. This is a start but I doubt his victims and their families consider it sufficient.

Reverendender,

Is anyone else starting to see a trend with this “Catholic Church?” Should we maybe look into this organization?

PinkPanther,

First time I’m hearing about the church doing something bad. I say just leave them be; the rest of them are 100% not child molesters.

SPRUNT,

You forget the “/s”.

PinkPanther,

With the “100%” wording in there, I figured it wasn’t necessary. If Murphy’s law becomes true here, so be it.

Zekas,

Poe’s law

PinkPanther,

If you want the correct information, just provide the wrong statement, and someone will correct you. Lol.

But yeah, your right. I fudged up.

Coreidan,

Starting? It’s always been this way, you’re just hearing more about it thanks to the internet

Cethin,

I’m 99.999% sure that was sarcasm…

Pratai,

Take note: NOT a drag queen.

spider,

Speaking of which:

https://web.archive.org/web/20231117060523/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/11/16/florida-drag-show-law-supreme-court/

Law signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis ® likely violates First Amendment and is at odds with parents’ “bill of rights,” a lower court said

Fun Fact: DeSantis is Catholic.

Serinus,

Did he induce the drug abuse? It leaves that part out.

Mouselemming,

Even if not, he would have been in a perfect position to steer them in a better direction than drugs, but he chose to degrade them instead. Sins of omission as well as commission.

afraid_of_zombies,

I didn’t see it either. Being molested makes you more likely to turn to drugs later on.

Cynicivity,

Good

Mafflez,

Not good enough personally. Should castrate ppl like them as well.

  • All
  • Subscribed
  • Moderated
  • Favorites
  • •
  • news@lemmy.world
  • rosin
  • thenastyranch
  • ethstaker
  • osvaldo12
  • mdbf
  • DreamBathrooms
  • InstantRegret
  • magazineikmin
  • Youngstown
  • ngwrru68w68
  • slotface
  • GTA5RPClips
  • kavyap
  • cubers
  • JUstTest
  • everett
  • cisconetworking
  • tacticalgear
  • anitta
  • khanakhh
  • normalnudes
  • Durango
  • modclub
  • tester
  • provamag3
  • Leos
  • megavids
  • lostlight
  • All magazines
    •