(03/19/19) - Jury selection will resume Wednesday morning in one of the sex abuse cases against a former Mid-Michigan Catholic priest.
Robert DeLand, known by many as Father Bob, is accused of inappropriate sexual contact with three young men. Altogether there are five criminal cases, but there will be three trials.
Tuesday's jury selection was the beginning of one of the trials, involving two criminal cases. Jurors chosen for the trial will hear testimony about cases involving two young men who were 17 at the time of the alleged incidents.
One of the teens came into contact with DeLand during the teen's court-ordered community service, the other says he was cornered at a friend's funeral.
The third young man, is not part of this trial, but will be part of a separate case. He was 21-years-old at the time of the alleged incident.
Saginaw County Circuit Court Judge Darnell Jackson said the initial round of jury selection was different than a traditional setting because of the high-profile case. He planned to interview each potential juror about their knowledge of the case.
The jury pool has since been narrowed down from 71 potential jurors to 41. They will report again Wednesday morning for further questioning.
Opening statements from both DeLand's attorney and the prosecution will take place after a jury is selected.
Before his arrest in February of 2018, DeLand was assigned to St. Agnes Catholic Church in Tittabawassee Township.