BOSTON, Sept. 28, 2016—A man who allegedly exploited his position within a Boston church was arraigned today on rape and related charges from the 1980s and 1990s, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said.

MICHAEL WALSH (D.O.B. 9/30/36) of Pembroke was indicted Sept. 16 on two counts of rape of a child and three counts of indecent assault and battery on a child for alleged offenses against a boy who was then in the fourth, fifth, and sixth grades. At the time, Walsh was an altar boy coordinator at St. Brendan’s Church in Dorchester and a coach with the Cedar Grove Baseball League.

At the request of Assistant District Attorney Ashley Polin of the DA’s Child Protection Unit, Clerk Magistrate Anne Kaczmarek ordered Walsh to wear a GPS monitor, remain in Massachusetts, and surrender his passport while the case is pending.

Massachusetts legislation passed in 2006 eliminated the statute of limitations in child sexual abuse cases, replacing it with a requirement that, in such cases brought more than 27 years after the abuse, prosecutors come forward with “objective, corroborative evidence” of the abuse.

“Changes in the statute of limitations law for child sexual abuse cases help us, but it means nothing without the bravery of abuse survivors who overcome their fear and shame to disclose trauma,” Conley said. “Survivors, young or old, should know that they can always count on us to help, support, and speak for them.”

Polin told the court that the victim, now in his late 30s, came forward to law enforcement earlier this year. Walsh allegedly used his position of authority “to gain access to, groom, and ultimately sexually assault” him. Walsh was said to take the victim and other children out to eat and to the movies, and would drive them home; the abuse of the victim took place within Walsh’s car, his home, and his office.

Polin also told the court that Walsh was ordained as a priest in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in 2002, but that his ministry was revoked after allegations of abuse that had taken place while Walsh was assigned to the St. Francis de Sales Church in Charlestown. Those allegations are not related to the current Suffolk County indictments and took place prior to the conduct charged in the pending case.

Halie Proulx is the DA’s assigned victim-witness advocate. Walsh was represented by attorney Matthew Thompson. He will return to court on Nov. 14.

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All defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.