LANSING ??Yesterday,?the?Michigan Court of Appeals?affirmed Neil Kalina?s two Second-Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct convictions, announced Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel. Kalina was charged and convicted following the Attorney General?s statewide clergy abuse investigation. ?

Neil Kalina, 67,?formerly of Shelby Township, was sentenced in July 2022 after a jury found?him guilty of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old child in 1984. He was a priest at St. Kiernan Catholic Church in Shelby Township from 1982-1985. He is currently incarcerated at the Cooper Street Correctional Facility in Jackson.?

"I am proud of the work of our prosecutors to secure these sentences against sexually abusive former priests within the Catholic church,? Nessel said. ?To see these convictions withstand appellate scrutiny reinforces my appreciation of their efforts.??

The court additionally remanded the case to the trial court for resentencing after ruling in Kalina?s favor that a technical error occurred in constructing his sentence when the Court considered acquitted conduct in tabulating an appropriate term of incarceration.

Kalina was one of 11 clergymen charged by the Michigan Department of Attorney General?s clergy abuse investigation team. For more information on the Attorney General?s clergy abuse investigation or to submit information,?visit the department?s website.

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