Woman: Former St. Bede teacher sexually assaulted me years ago

By Taryn Asher
Fox 2 News Reporter

LATHRUP VILLAGE, Mich. (WJBK) -- "I struggled with saying it because I've held it in for so long, but at this point I need to stop it from happening to anybody else," said Marlene Galea.

A little over two decades later, she has found the courage to come forward and go after the man she says she once trusted -- John Patrick Kiley, her teacher and basketball coach at St. Bede Elementary School in Lathrup Village.

Galea claims Kiley sexually assaulted her on numerous occasions from 1989 to 1991 starting when she was just eleven years old.

"I had two birthmarks on my neck at that time and he told me that those were my trademark and that one day he was going to plant a kiss on those, and then he kissed me and that was the first time that there was any type of physical contact."

Galea says Kiley took advantage of the family, acting as a father figure.  Her mother was divorced and a janitor at the school.  Kiley would pick her up and take her home from basketball practice, the two places Galea claims Kiley would kiss and fondle her and then coerce her into touching him and performing oral sex.

"I have a lot of flashbacks.  All of the memories, all of the times, the places," she explained.

We're told the sexual assaults would eventually stop in 1991.  It was her older sister who realized what was going on, went to her parents, who then went to the school and authorities.

At the time, Galea says she was embarrassed and denied the incidents, but not long after that, she claims her mother was fired from the school and Kiley was transferred to another school.

Galea is now suing Kiley and the archdiocese.

"Because they had the knowledge that this happened.  They had the report.  They had every opportunity to go after him and to investigate him as opposed to promoting him and moving him up through the ranks," said Fred Livingston, Galea's attorney.

We're learned Kiley is currently the principal of Holy Redeemer in southwest Detroit.  He didn't answer the door of his Roseville home, but a spokesperson for the Archdiocese of Detroit told us they have placed Kiley on paid administrative leave while they look into these allegations they are taking very seriously.

Galea isn't convinced and only wishes she had found the strength to say something sooner.

"I can't do anything about that now.  The only thing I can do now is, like I said, save it from happening from the next little girl."

Galea tells us her biggest fear is that she's not the only victim and that this might still be happening.  If that's the case, she hopes those victims will also come forward.