Neil Kalina, 69, a former priest at St. Kieran Catholic Church in Shelby Township, Michigan, has been resentenced to 7-15 years in prison for the sexual assault of a 14-year-old child in 1984. The sentence, which includes lifetime registration on the Sex Offender Registry, follows a conviction on two counts of Second-Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct by a Macomb County jury in 2022.
Kalina, who served at St. Kieran from 1982 to 1985, is currently incarcerated at the Cooper Street Correctional Facility in Jackson, Michigan. His initial sentencing in 2022 was challenged on appeal due to a technical error.
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The Michigan Court of Appeals upheld his conviction in April 2024 but ordered a resentencing after determining that acquitted conduct had improperly influenced the calculation of his prison term.
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel commented on the case, emphasizing the significance of holding perpetrators accountable, even decades after the crime.
“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,” Nessel said. “My office remains committed to supporting sexual assault survivors and victims of clergy abuse and ensuring their perpetrators are held accountable.”
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Kalina was one of 11 clergymen charged as part of the Michigan Department of Attorney General’s clergy abuse investigation. The probe has been instrumental in bringing attention to decades-old cases of abuse and ensuring justice for victims.
The public is encouraged to provide information or submit tips related to clergy abuse through the Michigan Department of Attorney General’s website.
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