Findlay priest federally charged with sex trafficking, coercion

Father Michael Zacharias, 53, of St. Michael the Archangel Parish, Findlay, was arrested Tuesday morning on federal charges of coercion and enticement, sex trafficking of a minor, and sex trafficking of an adult by force, fraud, or coercion. The Cleveland Division of the FBI – Lima Resident Agency, and the United States Attorney's Office - Northern District of Ohio, announced the arrest. Zacharias was taken into custody today without incident at his residence by members of the Northwest Ohio Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force. According to the complaint, investigators at this time are aware Zacharias has engaged in sexual conduct with minors since the late 1990s. The FBI is encouraging anyone that has had contact with Zacharias where they may have been "groomed" for possible future sexual purposes, they were inappropriately touched or they were sexually assaulted by Zacharias to call 216-622-6842. All information will be strictly confidential. In February 2017, Bishop Daniel E. Thomas of the Toledo Diocese appointed Zacharias to serve as the 24th pastor of Saint Michael the Archangel Parish. According to information from St. Mike's, Zacharias is a native of Elyria and was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Toledo in 2002. He has served as associate pastor of Saint Peter Parish in Mansfield; pastor of Saint Mary of the Assumption Parish in Van Wert; and pastor of Saint Ann Parish and Saint Joseph Parish in Fremont, where he served as dean of the Saint Philomena Deanery and was a member of the diocesan College of Consultors. During his tenure as pastor in Fremont, Zacharias was an integral part of the leadership for Saint Joseph Central Catholic High School. St. Michael's School is located on the church campus on Bright Road. Students at the private school range from preschool to eighth grade.