FINDLAY, Ohio — A former northwest Ohio priest was sentenced Friday, just over three years after he was initially arrested on charges of sex trafficking minors and adults, charges of which he was ultimately found guilty.
Michael J. Zacharias, 56, appeared in federal court Friday afternoon, where a judge sentenced him to life in prison on two counts of sex trafficking of a minor. He was also sentenced to 20 years on three additional sex trafficking charges. These sentences will run concurrently.
In response to the sentencing, the Diocese of Toledo offered the following statement:
"Today’s sentencing of Michael Zacharias in federal court marks another step towards justice for all of those harmed by his actions. As I expressed in my May 12, 2023 statement following his conviction, “The acts of which Rev. Michael Zacharias has been found guilty are reprehensible, morally deplorable, and manifestly contrary to the dignity due to each human person and the dignity of the priesthood.”
At the conclusion of the federal trial and the conviction of Zacharias, the diocese, in accord with Canon (Church) Law, had requested the imposition of the penalty of direct dismissal of the clerical state (returning him to the lay state), transmitting the case to the Holy See who alone has the authority to make a final determination concerning his status as a priest in the Church. We are awaiting the response.
With this sentencing, and as we await a decision from the Holy See, it is my hope and prayer that healing may continue and justice be restored, as we remain vigilant in confronting evil."
A federal jury found Zacharias guilty in May of the five following counts of sex trafficking charges: one count of sex trafficking of a minor; two counts of sex trafficking of a minor by force, fraud and coercion; and two counts of sex trafficking of an adult by force, fraud or coercion. He was arrested in August 2020.
Prosecutors said the crimes, which occurred between 1999 and July 2020, involved Zacharias using his position as a priest at Saint Michael the Archangel Parish to target victims and coerce them into sex acts.
He served in multiple parishes, including in Toledo, Fremont, and Findlay.
Witnesses during Zacharias' trial laid out how he began grooming the boys during his time at St. Catherine’s, gaining their trust as a father figure when they were as young as 11 years old. Those witnesses said the priest preyed on the boys as some of they developed drug habits, paying them thousands of dollars in exchange for allowing him to perform oral sex on them. Some of the victims said they needed the money to support opioid habits. All of them said they submitted because they did not want to lose him as a father figure or feared losing their connection to the church.
Zouhary said that Zacharias paid one victim more than $26,000 for sex and to maintain his silence. Another victim was paid more than $21,000. At points in the relationship, Zacharias made confession videos and in some cases had the boys beat him with a belt.
Before being sentenced, Zacharias denied that he ever abused the boys as minors. Instead, he said the relationships were consensual and that the victims extorted him into staying quiet.
“I’m sorry for all I’ve done. I’m sorry for breaking my priest promises. I apologize to other priests, families, and pray this doesn’t cause anyone to question their faith in God,” Zacharias said. “I have done many things, but I have a clear conscience before God about these charges.”
He claimed that the men perjured themselves on the stand in order to get deals for legal problems they were facing and “the jury bought it hook, line and sinker.”
One of the victims described the nightmares and trouble sleeping he experiences because of the abuse, saying it led to drug addiction, alcoholism and problems in school.
“For years, you took advantage of my addiction. I wasn’t in a position to consent to anything,” he said, adding that he has struggled with his romantic relationships since the abuse.
“It affected my relationships with women, trying to prove to myself I’m not gay,” he said. “I’ll never be the man, father, or brother that I could have been.”
His mother told the judge that Zacharias earned the family’s trust and stole her son’s innocence with a “smile on his face and a collar on his neck.”
She ended her statement by saying, “May you get what you deserve from the courts and one day when you face the judgment of God.”
She became visibly upset when Zacharias left the courtroom and smiled at her as he passed.
Zouhary could have sentenced Zacharias to a minimum of 15 years on each count, but he decided the depravity of the crimes deserved stiffer sentences.
“When you look in the mirror, what do you really see? Do you really see a man of clear conscience?” Zouhary asked.
The judge then quoted Psalm 37:13: “But the Lord laughs at the wicked for he knows their day is coming.”
He then added: “But today we don’t laugh, we cry.”
EARLIER COVERAGE: Former Findlay priest found guilty of sex trafficking minors, adults
Any allegations of sexual abuse by a priest, deacon, staff member or volunteer affiliated with the Diocese of Toledo should first be reported to local law enforcement where the abuse is alleged to have occurred.
The diocese also asks that any such allegation be reported to the Diocesan Victim Assistance Coordinator at 419-214-4880.
Editor's note: The above story has been updated to include an additional location where Zacharias served.
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