Profile Facts
- Name
- Malcolm Andree Portee
- Role
- Priest
- Diocese
- Diocese of Grand Rapids
- Order
- SCJ
- Ordained
- 1975
- Status
- Accused
- Died
- 11/29/1991
- Records
- Diocesan and public records
Abuse thrives in secrecy, and breaking that secrecy is an act of courage. The clergy sexual abuse lawyers at White Law PLLC stand with Michigan survivors who find that courage, offering confidential counsel and determined advocacy.
Father Malcolm Andree Portee was a Priest of the Sacred Heart (SCJ) ordained in 1975 who died in 1991. He was named publicly as accused in the Michigan Attorney General’s December 2025 Grand Rapids report. This page summarizes the reported allegation and the legal options Michigan law provides.
Sexual Abuse in the Diocese of Grand Rapids
Grand Rapids anchors the Diocese of Grand Rapids, one of seven Catholic dioceses in Michigan. The statewide community also includes the Archdiocese of Detroit and the Dioceses of Saginaw, Lansing, Kalamazoo, Gaylord, and Marquette. Michigan’s Attorney General opened a statewide clergy-abuse investigation in 2018, releasing the Grand Rapids report in December 2025.
A Michigan clergy sexual abuse lawyer can determine whether the Attorney General’s findings support a civil claim, even when the accused priest died decades ago and served far from Michigan.
The Allegations Against Father Malcolm Andree Portee
Named in the 2025 Grand Rapids Report
Published records indicate that Portee died in 1991 at age 48 in Carbondale, Illinois. According to his death notice, he was a priest of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Pinellas Park, Florida. He was named publicly as accused in the Michigan Attorney General’s December 15, 2025 Diocese of Grand Rapids Report.
The 2011 Allegation
The diocese received an allegation in 2011 that Portee had sexually abused a 14-year-old girl on several occasions in the late 1970s. His alleged victim said she had been made to clean the rectory after being caught stealing, and that Portee “fondled and penetrated her.” Because Portee died in 1991, he can no longer face criminal charges, but survivors may still pursue civil claims against his estate, his religious order, or the diocese.
Criminal vs. Civil Sexual Abuse Cases
Survivors have two distinct legal paths. The criminal path lets the state prosecute and punish the offender. The civil path lets the survivor sue for compensation covering treatment costs, pain and suffering, and emotional distress. The civil path remains open even when no criminal case exists.
Institutions share exposure in civil court. A diocese or religious order that knew or should have known of the danger, failed to prevent the abuse, concealed it, or neglected proper screening and training may be held liable under Michigan law.
Statute of Limitations on Clergy Sexual Abuse Cases in Michigan
Under MCL §600.5805, Michigan survivors have ten years, or until age 28, whichever is later, to file a civil sexual abuse lawsuit. First-degree criminal sexual conduct faces no time limit. The law’s extended civil window acknowledges that trauma and memory suppression routinely delay disclosure.
Still, timing rules are fact-dependent, so survivors benefit from speaking with an attorney as soon as they are ready.
View All Accused Clergy in Michigan
Pursue Justice With Help From White Law PLLC
No survivor should bear the cost of abuse alone. A civil lawsuit may provide compensation for medical and therapy bills, pain and suffering, and lasting emotional harm, while holding responsible institutions publicly accountable. White Law PLLC handles these sensitive cases with the care they deserve.
Contact us at (517) 316-1195 for a confidential case evaluation.
Profiles summarize published records and allegations. Inclusion does not constitute a legal finding.