Profile Facts
- Name
- David C. Otto
- Role
- Priest
- Diocese
- Diocese of Kalamazoo
- Ordained
- 1977
- Status
- Accused
- Died
- 8/27/2019
- Records
- Diocesan and public records
No survivor should have to confront a powerful diocese without strong counsel in their corner. The clergy sexual abuse lawyers at White Law PLLC give Michigan survivors a voice, handling each case with discretion from the first phone call forward.
Father David C. Otto was ordained in 1977 and served in the Diocese of Kalamazoo until his retirement in 2014. He was named publicly as accused in the Michigan Attorney General’s 2024 Kalamazoo report after a woman reported childhood abuse by him. This page summarizes the reported allegations and explains how Michigan law protects survivors.
Sexual Abuse in the Diocese of Kalamazoo
Southwest Michigan’s Diocese of Kalamazoo joins six others, the Archdiocese of Detroit and the Dioceses of Grand Rapids, Saginaw, Lansing, Gaylord, and Marquette, in making up the state’s Catholic map. The Michigan Attorney General’s office began investigating clergy sexual abuse statewide in 2018, releasing its Kalamazoo findings in May 2024.
Survivors working with a Michigan clergy sexual abuse lawyer can draw on these official reports, along with diocesan records, to document what happened and who failed to stop it.
The Allegations Against Father David C. Otto
The Kalamazoo Report
Published records indicate that Otto was named publicly as accused in the Michigan Attorney General’s May 22, 2024 Kalamazoo report. In 2018, a woman told the diocese that she, her sister, and other girls had been molested as children in the 1980s by Otto. The reported abuse included inappropriate hugs, fondling, and mouth kisses.
His Response
Otto denied abusing the girls but acknowledged that he was a “hugger.” He had retired in 2014 and died on August 27, 2019. Because he is deceased, criminal charges against him are no longer possible; however, civil claims against his estate or the Diocese of Kalamazoo may still be available to survivors.
Criminal vs. Civil Sexual Abuse Cases
Criminal law and civil law offer survivors two distinct avenues. Prosecutors pursue criminal cases to impose punishment such as imprisonment. Survivors pursue civil cases to recover damages for their injuries, and those cases proceed independently of any criminal action.
A diocese may share civil liability where its officials were aware of the danger a priest posed, or should have been aware, yet failed to prevent the abuse, concealed reports, or did not properly screen and train clergy.
Statute of Limitations on Clergy Sexual Abuse Cases in Michigan
Michigan’s statute of limitations for civil sexual abuse claims, MCL §600.5805, generally allows ten years or until the survivor turns 28, whichever is later. No time limit applies to first-degree criminal sexual conduct. The law’s extended civil window reflects a hard truth: trauma and suppressed memories frequently delay reporting by years or even decades.
Because exceptions and special circumstances can affect the deadline, survivors should seek legal advice without delay to preserve every available option.
View All Accused Clergy in Michigan
Pursue Justice With Help From White Law PLLC
Justice in a clergy abuse case can mean compensation for therapy and medical treatment, for pain and suffering, and for the emotional distress that lingers long after the abuse ends. It can also mean forcing an institution to acknowledge what it allowed to happen. White Law PLLC helps Michigan survivors pursue both.
Reach us at (517) 316-1195 for a confidential consultation. We are here when you are ready.
Profiles summarize published records and allegations. Inclusion does not constitute a legal finding.