Profile Facts
- Name
- Aaron Nowicki
- Role
- Priest
- Diocese
- Diocese of Marquette
- Ordained
- 2016
- Status
- Convicted
- Records
- Diocesan and public records
The clergy sexual abuse lawyers at White Law PLLC stand with Michigan survivors who were harmed by priests, brothers, deacons, and other religious figures they were taught to trust. We know how hard it can be to come forward, and we handle every conversation with care and confidentiality.
This page profiles Father Aaron Nowicki, a priest of the Diocese of Marquette who was convicted in 2023 on charges arising from a 2021 undercover sting operation. Below, we summarize the public record, explain how Michigan law treats clergy abuse cases, and describe the legal options that may still be available to survivors.
Sexual Abuse in the Diocese of Marquette
The Diocese of Marquette covers Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, one of seven Catholic dioceses in the state. The others are the Archdiocese of Detroit and the Dioceses of Grand Rapids, Saginaw, Lansing, Kalamazoo, and Gaylord. In 2018, the Michigan Attorney General’s office launched a statewide investigation into sexual abuse by clergy, an inquiry that has since produced reports naming accused priests in diocese after diocese.
A Michigan clergy sexual abuse lawyer can help survivors understand what these investigations uncovered and whether the findings support a civil claim. Church records and law-enforcement files often contain details that never reached parishioners at the time.
The Allegations Against Father Aaron Nowicki
The 2021 Sting Operation
Published records indicate that Nowicki, ordained in 2016, was arrested in August 2021 after arranging to meet someone he believed was a 14- or 15-year-old for sex in Sault Ste. Marie. The supposed teenager was an undercover officer. According to the Michigan Attorney General’s October 2022 report, which included Nowicki, he had already been removed from ministry in the Diocese of Marquette in 2019 over alleged inappropriate sexual conduct involving a vulnerable adult.
Conviction, Parole, and Reversal
Nowicki was convicted in September 2023 on the charges stemming from the sting and was granted parole in April 2025. In September 2026, however, the Michigan Court of Appeals conditionally reversed the 2023 conviction, pointing to ineffective assistance from his trial counsel and concerns about entrapment. Because his case remains in flux, survivors should know that civil claims follow a separate track from criminal proceedings and do not depend on a conviction standing.
Criminal vs. Civil Sexual Abuse Cases
A criminal case is brought by the state and can lead to prison time; a civil lawsuit is filed by the survivor and seeks financial compensation. The two move independently, so a civil case can go forward even when prosecutors decline charges or a conviction is later overturned.
In Michigan, a survivor may also be able to sue the institution that employed the abuser, particularly when church leaders knew or should have known about the danger, failed to prevent it, covered it up, or neglected basic screening and training.
Statute of Limitations on Clergy Sexual Abuse Cases in Michigan
Michigan law (MCL §600.5805) generally gives survivors ten years, or until they turn 28, whichever is later, to bring a civil sexual abuse claim. There is no time limit for first-degree criminal sexual conduct charges. Many survivors need years or decades to process what happened; trauma and memory suppression frequently delay reporting, and the law’s extended window reflects that reality.
Because the rules have exceptions and the clock can run differently depending on the facts, the safest step is to speak with an attorney promptly about where things stand.
View All Accused Clergy in Michigan
Pursue Justice With Help From White Law PLLC
If you or someone you love was harmed by Father Aaron Nowicki or any other member of the clergy, you deserve to be heard, and you may be entitled to compensation for medical and therapy costs, pain and suffering, and emotional distress. The team at White Law PLLC has guided Michigan survivors through these cases with discretion and determination.
Call (517) 316-1195 today for a confidential consultation. We will listen, explain your options, and stand beside you for as long as the fight takes.
Profiles summarize published records and allegations. Inclusion does not constitute a legal finding.