Father Gary Jacobs: Clergy Sexual Predator Profile

Father Gary Jacobs ministered as a Catholic priest in Iron Mountain, Escanaba, and Ewen in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. He is currently serving eight to fifteen years in prison after pleading guilty to multiple counts of first- and second-degree criminal sexual conduct. He will be eligible for release sometime between 2026 and 2032.

In 2019, authorities arrested and convicted Father Jacobs for sexual abuse of minors. At that time, the police set up a hotline for other victims and gathered multiple tips going back to the early 1970s. These reports described how Father Jacobs would shower and undress in front of altar boys, touching their genitalia and masturbating on at least one occasion.

Later investigations uncovered nude photographs of Father Jacobs giving and receiving oral sex to teenage boys. While another priest discovered these photos in 1982, they were not made public until 1988—after Father Jacobs was placed on leave and sent to rehab for alcohol abuse. Father Jacobs was removed from the priestly ministry in 1989 and expelled from the priesthood in 2010.

At Sommers Schwartz P.C., Lisa Esser-Weidenfeller, Matthew Curtis, and Jay Yasso are fighting for sexual abuse survivors. Our firm has recovered millions from high-profile predators such as Dr. Larry Nassar—Michigan State University and USAG team physician—and Dr. Robert Anderson, who sexually abused students, athletes, and other patients for over thirty-five years at the University of Michigan.

If Father Jacobs or another member of the clergy has sexually abused you, don’t wait. Contact Sommers Schwartz for a free consultation and let our experienced attorneys help pursue your case with the compassion, empathy, and sensitivity your story deserves.