Profile Facts
- Name
- David E. LeBlanc
- Role
- Priest
- Diocese
- Diocese of Grand Rapids
- Ordained
- 1961
- Status
- Sued
- Died
- 8/20/2019
- Records
- Diocesan and public records
Few betrayals cut deeper than a priest who admits abuse while his diocese looks the other way. The clergy sexual abuse lawyers at White Law PLLC stand with Michigan survivors in holding both abusers and institutions accountable.
This page summarizes the reported case of Father David E. LeBlanc, a priest of the Diocese of Grand Rapids who admitted sexually abusing a boy in 1971 yet remained in ministry for decades. According to published records, the diocese did nothing until a 2007 review of personnel files brought the matter to light. Father LeBlanc died in 2019, so criminal prosecution is not possible, but civil claims may still be available.
Sexual Abuse in the Diocese of Grand Rapids
The Diocese of Grand Rapids is one of seven dioceses in Michigan, along with the Archdiocese of Detroit and the dioceses of Saginaw, Marquette, Lansing, Gaylord, and Kalamazoo. The Michigan Attorney General’s investigation, begun in 2018, released a December 2025 report on the Grand Rapids diocese that included Father LeBlanc. A Michigan clergy sexual abuse lawyer can explain how documented diocesan inaction strengthens a survivor’s civil case.
LeBlanc admitted the 1971 abuse to the diocese in 1993, yet apparently nothing was done until 2007. When a diocese learns of abuse and leaves the priest in place, its liability in a later civil lawsuit can be substantial.
The Allegations Against Father David E. LeBlanc
An Admission Ignored
Published records indicate that David E. LeBlanc was ordained in 1961. He resigned from his parish in January 2007 after admitting to Bishop Hurley that he had sexually abused a boy, age 10 or 11, in 1971 during a sleepover at the rectory. The allegation had been brought to the diocese in 1993, and LeBlanc admitted it then. Apparently the bishop at the time did nothing. The matter came to light in January 2007 when the bishop reviewed personnel files.
Lawsuit and Later Allegation
The victim filed a claim against the diocese in September 2007. In April 2019, a man stated publicly that LeBlanc molested him at a Caledonia parish in 1999, when he was age 12. There was no prosecution due to the statute of limitations. LeBlanc died on August 20, 2019, and was included in the Michigan Attorney General’s December 2025 Diocese of Grand Rapids report. An admission by the priest, combined with years of diocesan inaction, is powerful evidence in a civil case.
Criminal vs. Civil Sexual Abuse Cases
Legal action after clergy abuse takes two main forms. A criminal prosecution is brought by the state, requires proof beyond a reasonable doubt, and seeks punishment. A civil lawsuit is brought by the survivor, requires proof by a preponderance of the evidence, and seeks compensation. Father LeBlanc’s death leaves only the civil option.
Criminal Cases
Criminal cases punish offenders but do not compensate survivors, and they cannot proceed against a deceased person. Here, the statute of limitations also barred prosecution while LeBlanc was alive.
Civil Lawsuits
Civil lawsuits allow survivors to seek damages from the abuser’s estate and from the diocese. Where a diocese received an admission of abuse and failed to act for 14 years, that institutional failure can be central to a survivor’s claim.
Statute of Limitations on Clergy Sexual Abuse Cases in Michigan
Under Michigan Legislature §600.5805, civil sexual abuse lawsuits generally must be filed within ten years of the abuse or before the survivor turns 28, whichever is later. Michigan imposes no time limit for first-degree criminal sexual conduct charges.
Survivors of abuse from the 1970s and 1990s often disclosed decades later. Trauma, shame, and the knowledge that the church had already ignored complaints can discourage reporting. An attorney can assess the specific facts and advise whether a civil claim may still proceed.
View All Accused Clergy in Michigan
Pursue Justice With Help From White Law PLLC
Through a civil claim, survivors may recover the costs of therapy and medical care, as well as damages for pain and suffering and emotional distress. Claims may be filed against the abuser’s estate and against the diocese or institution where officials knew or should have known of the abuse, failed to prevent it, covered it up, or failed to properly screen, train, and supervise clergy.
White Law PLLC is available to Michigan clergy abuse survivors for confidential consultations. Call (517) 316-1195 or come to .
Profiles summarize published records and allegations. Inclusion does not constitute a legal finding.