Detroit, Michigan – Attorneys of Sommers Schwartz PC are taking a stand for survivors of sexual abuse following the conviction of Father Joseph “Jack” Baker, who served numerous churches in the Metro Detroit area for nearly three decades.
Father Joseph “Jack” Baker was ordained in 1993 and fulfilled various pastor and associate pastor assignments at Saint Perpetua Parish in Waterford, St. Mary Parish in Wayne, Sacred Heart Parish in Dearborn, and Saint Hugo of the Hills Parish in Bloomfield Hills. However, beneath his ecclesiastical guise, Father Baker committed a heinous act of sexual assault in 2004, victimizing a seven-year-old boy in a church sacristy in Wayne, MI.
The priest used his authoritative position to silence the boy, framing the assault as a sin committed by the young victim himself. Only in 2019, nearly two decades after the initial assault, was Father Baker restricted from all public ministry.
The now 26-year-old survivor courageously testified against his abuser, leading to Father Baker’s conviction on charges of first-degree criminal sexual conduct with sexual penetration. Currently held in Wayne County jail, Father Baker awaits sentencing and faces up to 25 years in prison.
At Sommers Schwartz, attorneys Lisa Esser-Weidenfeller, Matthew Curtis, and Jay Yasso are championing the cause of sexual abuse survivors. Collectively, they have recuperated millions of dollars from high-profile predators, including Dr. Larry Nassar, the former Michigan State University and USAG team physician, and Dr. Robert Anderson, who sexually abused students, athletes, and other patients for over 35 years at the University of Michigan.
In the wake of Father Baker’s conviction, Sommers Schwartz PC continues to provide unwavering support for survivors, endeavoring to bring justice to those who have suffered at the hands of their trusted figures of authority.
CASE INFORMATION
DIOCESE OF MARQUETTE INVESTIGATION
Dana Nessel – Michigan Attorney General
Report Released October 27, 2022
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