The FBI arrested a Findlay, Ohio priest on Tuesday on charges of child sex trafficking. Agents said Father Michael Zacharias, 53, a priest at St. Michael the Archangel Church sexually abused children since the late 1990s. When those children became addicted to drugs, he offered drug money in exchange for sexual access.
Authorities first learned of Zacharias’ sick activities when they arrested a man for fentanyl possession. They discovered sexual conversations on his phone between him and someone identified in the contacts as “FrZ.” When they checked the number, they found out it belonged to Father Zacharais. The man told the FBI that Father Zacharias paid him in exchange for sex as a child. When he grew up and became addicted to drugs, Zacharias continued to pay him for sex and communicate with him. The priest befriended the boy while he attended St. Catherine’s Catholic School in Toledo for sixth grade.
The man said he wanted to break off the relationship but he needed drug money. The priest kept increasing the amount of money he paid for sex and even recorded a confession video for the man to hold in exchange for continuing the sexual activity. The man handed the thumb drive over to the FBI
Sick Confession
According to the FBI, the contents of that thumb drive are graphic and disturbing. Here’s what the FBI said is on the recording.
“My name is Michael Zacharias. I first met [Victim #1] 5 when he was in 6th grade at St. Catherine’s and I was a Seminarian. I knew from the first time I saw him thatI wanted to suck his dick. I;ve always loved [Victim #1]. I’d got to know him over the years. Knew that he was, that his dad was out of the picture, and I started grooming him. I knew someday I wanted to suck his dick. Remember seeing him in the hospital, he had meningitis. I remember it was the two of us alone in the room. And I remember the back of his hospital gown opened up and I saw his ass. Wanted that sweet little ass right then. I remember rubbing his back. I remember thinking, I gotta suck his dick sometime. So I kept going over to his house and I got to know him over the years.”
The FBI monitored text conversations between the two where the priest admitted beginning a sexual relationship with the man while he was still a child.
Second Victim
It didn’t take the FBI long to find a second victim. As with the first victim, the second attended St. Catherine’s Catholic School in Toledo. Victim #1 met Zacharias during the first grade. The priest visited the family home and befriended the boy and his brother. The second man said Zacharias began to make sexual comments to him in 8th grade. Around that time, the second victim began to use opioids.
One day when he was dope sick and home from school, the priest visited him alone at home and offered him drug money in exchange for sex.
The Charges
The FBI charged Zacharias with:
- coercion and enticement
- sex trafficking of a minor
- and sex trafficking of an adult by force, fraud, or coercion
Members of the Northwest Ohio Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force arrested him at his home on Tuesday without incident. Zacharias was taken into custody today, August 18, 2020, without incident.
The FBI asked anyone that has had contact with Michael Zacharias where they may have been “groomed” for possible future sexual purposes, they were inappropriately touched, or they were sexually assaulted by Michael Zacharias to contact the FBI at (216) 622-6842. All information will be strictly confidential.
Reprehensible Charges
The Toledo Diocese said Zacharias was ordained as a priest in 2002 and these are the first allegations raised against him.
Bishop Daniel E. Thomas placed Father Michael Zacharias on administrative leave effective immediately. In a statement, the Diocese called the charges ‘grave and reprehensible.’
Bishop Daniel Thomas said, “I am profoundly shocked and grieved to learn of these charges against one of our priests. The Church cannot and will not tolerate any such behavior and takes any sexual abuse or misconduct on the part of a cleric with the utmost seriousness. As we await the outcome of the criminal investigation, our prayers go out to anyone affected by this situation.”
While on leave Father Zacharias cannot exercise public priestly ministry, administer any of the Sacraments, wear clerical attire or present himself as a priest. Administrative leave is a precautionary measure while an allegation is being investigated.
St. Michael The Archangel parish has a K-8 school. Parish officials said there are currently no allegations of victims at the parish school.
The Diocese encouraged anyone who had been abused to first contact the FBI and also report the allegation to the Diocesan Victim Assistance Coordinator at 419-214-4880.
List Of Parishes
According to the Toledo Diocese, these are the Ohio parishes where Zacharias served:
- 1999 – 2000 – St. Catherine of Siena in Toledo – seminarian
- 2002 – 2007 – St. Peter Parish in Mansfield – associate pastor
- 2007 – 2011 – St. Mary of the Assumption in Van Wert- pastor
- 2011 -2017 – St. Joseph and St. Ann Parishes in Fremont – Pastor
- 2017- present – St. Michael the Archangel in Findlay – Pastor