Profile Facts
- Name
- Roy Joseph
- Role
- Priest
- Diocese
- Diocese of Marquette
- Status
- Arrested
- Records
- Diocesan and public records
No survivor should have to carry the weight of clergy abuse alone. The clergy sexual abuse lawyers at White Law PLLC stand with Michigan survivors, helping them seek justice against individual abusers and the institutions that protected them.
This page covers the reported case of Father Roy Joseph, a priest of the Diocese of Marquette who was criminally charged in 2020. The details below come from published diocesan records and the Michigan Attorney General’s report. The charges against Father Joseph are accusations, and he is presumed innocent unless proven guilty. Survivors with information about this case may still have civil options, which White Law PLLC can discuss in confidence.
Sexual Abuse in the Diocese of Marquette
The Diocese of Marquette is one of Michigan’s seven dioceses, together with the Archdiocese of Detroit and the dioceses of Gaylord, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Lansing, and Saginaw. The Michigan Attorney General’s clergy abuse investigation, begun in 2018, produced an October 2022 report on the Marquette diocese that named priests accused of abuse. A Michigan clergy sexual abuse lawyer can explain what that report means for survivors considering a claim.
Criminal charges do not always lead to convictions, and they never provide compensation to survivors. A civil lawsuit is a separate path, one that the survivor controls, and it can proceed regardless of how the criminal case turns out.
The Allegations Against Father Roy Joseph
Criminal Charges Filed in 2020
According to published records, Father Roy Joseph was criminally charged on January 17, 2020, in connection with an alleged incident around February 21, 2006, while he was assigned in Marquette County. At the time the charges were filed, Joseph was living in India, and by October 2020 his extradition from India was reportedly in progress.
Named in the Attorney General’s Report
Joseph’s name was included in the Michigan Attorney General’s October 2022 report on the Diocese of Marquette. Public information about the underlying allegations remains limited, and White Law PLLC is monitoring the case as it develops. Anyone with knowledge of Father Joseph’s conduct is encouraged to come forward; additional witnesses often strengthen both criminal and civil cases.
Criminal vs. Civil Sexual Abuse Cases
When abuse is reported, two separate legal systems may respond. In a criminal case, the state prosecutes the accused and must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. In a civil case, the survivor sues for damages under a lower standard of proof. The two cases are independent: one can move forward without the other.
Criminal Cases
A criminal prosecution aims to punish the offender with penalties such as imprisonment. The decision to charge rests with prosecutors, and an arrest is only the beginning of a long process in which the accused is presumed innocent.
Civil Lawsuits
A civil lawsuit seeks money damages for the survivor’s injuries, including therapy costs, pain and suffering, and emotional distress. Survivors may sue the abuser and the diocese, particularly where church officials failed to supervise the priest or ignored warning signs.
Statute of Limitations on Clergy Sexual Abuse Cases in Michigan
Under Michigan Legislature §600.5805, a civil lawsuit for sexual abuse generally must be filed within ten years of the abuse or before the survivor reaches age 28, whichever is later. Michigan imposes no time limit on first-degree criminal sexual conduct prosecutions.
Survivors of clergy abuse very often delay disclosure. Trauma can suppress memories, and fear, shame, and reverence for religious authority can keep victims silent for years. An attorney can examine the facts of your case and advise whether the filing deadline has passed or whether an exception applies.
View All Accused Clergy in Michigan
Pursue Justice With Help From White Law PLLC
Through a civil claim, survivors may recover the costs of medical care and counseling, as well as damages for pain and suffering and emotional distress. Claims may be brought against the priest and against the diocese or other church institutions where leaders knew or should have known of the risk, failed to prevent the abuse, covered it up, or failed to adequately screen and supervise clergy.
If you have information about Father Roy Joseph or were harmed by a member of the clergy, contact White Law PLLC for a confidential consultation at (517) 316-1195. The firm is located at .
Profiles summarize published records and allegations. Inclusion does not constitute a legal finding.