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OCSO: Kentwood man with former ties to church charged in sex assault

GRAND HAVEN, Mich. -- The Ottawa County Sheriff's Office says a 55-year-old Kentwood man with former ties to a parish in Grand Rapids has been formally charged in connection with an alleged sexual assault.

Detectives say James Richard Beauchamp was video-arraigned, and is in the Ottawa County Jail on half-a-million dollars' bond. They say the inappropriate sexual contact was with a 17-year-old male who had been given alcohol by Beauchamp. Police say the victim was photographed without his knowledge or consent at a hotel in Grand Haven.

Police say he has been charged with second-degree criminal sexual conduct, child sexually abusive activity, using a computer to commit a crime and furnishing alcohol to a minor. 

Beauchamp was a parish employee and not an employee of the Diocese of Grand Rapids. He  was a faith leader for teens and young adults at St. Patrick-St. Anthony Catholic Parish in Grand Haven.

Investigators say Beauchamp also was not a priest, but had contact with teens and young adults through his employment and volunteer work. The sheriff's office thinks there may be more victims, and asks them to report any potential criminal incidents to law enforcement.

In a written statement, the diocese said:

"The charges against a former parish employee are deeply troubling. The Diocese of Grand Rapids holds the victim-survivor and his family in our prayers and continues to offer them support on their healing journey. The family reported the incident to the diocese, who forwarded the complaint to the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office and the Michigan Attorney General. The diocese, in conjunction with the parish, will continue to cooperate fully with the investigation.

"The parish pastor terminated Mr. Beauchamp’s employment upon learning of the allegation. In accordance with our diocesan safe environment policies, Mr. Beauchamp had previously passed several background checks, went through Virtus, a safe environment training program that is mandatory for all members of our clergy, volunteers, staff members and teachers, and signed the “Standards of Ministerial Behavior in Dealing with Children and Young People.”

More information from an Ottawa County Sheriff's Office news release:

At the conclusion of the investigation, the case was turned over to the Ottawa County Prosecuting Attorney's Office and on November 29th, 2023, criminal charges were authorized.

Charges include: Criminal Sexual Conduct-2nd Degree- During the Commission of a Felony, Child Sexual Abusive Activity, Using a Computer to Commit a Crime, and Furnishing Alcohol to a Minor.

On December 1st, 2023, the suspect was located in Kentwood by Ottawa County detectives and taken into custody without incident. Kentwood Police Department assisted the Sheriff's Office. He was lodged at the Ottawa County Jail.

The suspect is identified as James "Jimmy" Richard Beauchamp, age 55, of Kentwood. Mr. Beauchamp was arraigned by the Honorable Craig Bunce on 12/01/23 via video at the 58th District Court. Bond was set at $500,000 cash/surety and Beauchamp remains in custody at the Ottawa County Jail. Mr. Beauchamp had contact with teens and young adults through his employment and volunteer work.

Mr. Beauchamp was not a priest. Sheriff's Investigators believe that additional victims may exist that have not yet reported potential criminal incidents to law enforcement. The case remains under investigation.

If anyone has additional information, they are encouraged to contact the Ottawa County Sheriff's Office at (616) 738-4025 or Silent Observer at 1-877-88-SILENT (745368) or online at mosotips.com. This incident remains under investigation by the Ottawa County Sheriff's Office detectives.

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Booking photo of Jimmy Beauchamp provided by OCSO.


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