Neil Kalina, a former priest at St. Kiernan Catholic Church in Shelby Township, has been resentenced to a prison term of 7 to 15 years after a Michigan Court of Appeals found a technical error in his original sentencing over charges of criminal sexual conduct. Kalina, 69, was found guilty in 2022 of assaulting a 14-year-old in 1984 but will now be resentenced due to an error involving "improper consideration of acquitted conduct" in his sentence calculation, as reported by CBS News Detroit.
After the Michigan Attorney General's Office's clergy abuse investigation team charged 11 clergymen, including Kalina, the case has drawn prolonged judicial scrutiny. During the resentencing, Attorney General Dana Nessel emphasized, "While this case has been prolonged, I hope that after 40 years, the victim can find some solace knowing Mr. Kalina will continue to spend years behind bars for this heinous assault." Her office remains steadfast in support of those who have survived sexual and clergy abuse, confirming through a press release their commitment to holding perpetrators accountable.
Kalina's conviction, upheld by the Court of Appeals, encompassed two counts of Second-Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct. The correction in his sentencing will not change the order that he must register for life with the Sex Offender Registry. He is currently serving time at the Cooper Street Correctional Facility in Jackson.
The efforts of the Michigan Department of Attorney General's clergy abuse investigation team signify a broader initiative to address and redress misdeeds from the past. Details about the investigation and information on how to submit tips can be found on the Department’s website. As Nessel stated in the press release, "My office remains committed to supporting sexual assault survivors and victims of clergy abuse and ensuring their perpetrators are held accountable," marking a clear stance on the issue of clergy misconduct.
