Sexual Abuse Allegations Against Joseph Baker

Father Joseph Baker is a Catholic priest who was arrested for sexually abusing underage victims. Though the abuse occurred in the early 2000s, Baker did not suffer any consequences until decades later. 

• Primary Entity Name: Joseph Baker
• Common Variations / Aliases: Father Joseph Baker, Fr. Joseph, Fr. Jack, Fr. Baker, Joseph “Jack” Baker
• Role/Title at Time of Incident: Parish Priest
• Current Status: In prison

This page summarizes the history of abuse allegations against Brother Robert E. Beckstrom, his ministry assignments, and the institution’s response to his behavior.

Public Identification and Clergy Status

Many credibly accused priests are identified publicly as sexual abusers within their dioceses. However, Baker has not yet been added to any publicly released lists by the Archdiocese of Detroit. The following entities have released some public information about the allegations against Baker:

• The Archdiocese of Detroit, via a public statement in June 2019
• Michigan Department of the Attorney General, via a press release in March 2023

These entities named Baker as a result of substantiated sexual abuse allegations and a prison sentence on charges of sexual penetration of a minor. 

Key Status Facts

Ordination Year: 1993 in the Archdiocese of Detroit

Years in Active Ministry: 1993-2019 (roughly 27 years)

Locations Where He Served: Archdiocese of Detroit (Bloomfield Hills, Dearborn, Detroit, Wayne, Inkster, and Waterford)

Restrictions: Removed fully from ministry in 2019

Criminal Convictions: One count of criminal sexual conduct in the first degree, sentenced to 3-15 years in 2023

Laicization: N/A

Public Disclosure: 2019 in a public statement from the Archdiocese of Detroit

Assignment History

Primary Diocese: Archdiocese of Detroit

Parish Assignments (as documented in public reports):

1993 – Ordained in the Archdiocese of Detroit, MI

1993-1996 – St. Hugo of the Hills Parish in Bloomfield Hills, MI

1996-1997 – Sacred Heart Parish in Dearborn, MI

1997-2008 – St. Mary Parish in Wayne, MI

2003-2004 – SS. Kevin and Norbert Parish in Inkster, MI

2003-2008 – Holy Family Parish in Inkster, MI

2011 – St. Benedict Parish in Waterford, MI

2008-2019 – St. Perpetua Parish in Waterford, MI

Non-Church Assignments:

1996-1997 – Wayne State Medical School Campus Ministry in Detroit, MI

Known Allegations

When Father Joseph Baker was accused of sexually abusing a boy under the age of 13 in 2004, he was immediately removed from active ministry by the Archdiocese of Detroit. According to the accuser, he was preparing for his first communion when he was in second grade. Bake took the boy into a storage closet at St. Mary’s and proceeded to rape him. 

The first report of the abuse was brought to the attention of the archdiocese in 2019. The church removed Baker from active ministry in June of that year, pending an investigation into the allegations. Baker was arrested in July on charges of sexual penetration with a child under 13. He was convicted in October of 2022 and sentenced to 3-15 years in prison in 2023. Joseph Baker is currently serving that sentence. 

Summary: Father Joseph Baker raped a second-grade boy at St. Mary’s in 2004, and once the church received reports of this abuse in 2019, Baker was immediately removed from ministry until he was arrested soon after. 

Overseeing Authorities During Key Periods: 

• Auxiliary Bishop Moses Bosco Anderson (1983-2003)
• Auxiliary Bishop Kevin Michael Britt (1994-2002)
• Auxiliary Bishop Leonard Paul Blair (1999-2003)
• Auxiliary Bishop Earl Alfred Boyea (2002-2008)
• Auxiliary Bishop Michael J. Byrnes (2011-2016)
• Auxiliary Bishop Gerard Battersby (2017-2024)
• Archbishop Adam Maida (1990-2009)
• Archbishop Allen Vigneror (2010-2025)

Institutional Actions and Review

When reports about Baker’s sexual abuse of a child came to light in 2019, the Archdiocese of Detroit acted swiftly. Baker was immediately relieved from his ministry position at St. Perpetua Parish in Waterford, MI. He was no longer permitted to present himself as a priest or wear clerical clothes. The archdiocese also referred the matter to the Michigan Department of the Attorney General for investigation. The AG’s office then recommended that the diocese take the appropriate actions regarding accused Michigan priests, as outlined in Canon Law. 

Baker was quickly arrested in 2019 on charges of sexual conduct penetration with a child under 13. He was officially convicted in October 2022 and sentenced to 3-15 years in prison in 2023. When the allegations were made in 2019, the Archdiocese of Detroit issued a public statement announcing the accusations and the pending investigation by the Attorney General. 

Timeline

1993 – Baker is ordained by the Archdiocese of Detroit

1993-2019 – Assigned to various parishes throughout the diocese, including St. Mary’s from 1997 to 2008

2004 – Baker rapes a second-grade boy awaiting his first communion in a storage closet at St. Mary’s

2019 – The victim reports their sexual abuse to the Archdiocese of Detroit

2019 – The church removes Baker from all ministry roles and refers the matter to the Attorney General’s office

2019 – Baker is arrested on charges of sexual penetration with a minor

2022 – Convicted

2023 – Sentenced to 3-15 years in prison in March

Speak With an Attorney

As a victim of sexual abuse by a clergy member, you may face a lifetime of physical and emotional challenges. At the Injury Lawyer Team, we can help you pursue justice against the at-fault parties in your case, whether that is a diocese or an individual priest. We will help you build a strong claim to fight for fair compensation for your legal damages.

If you have been affected by sexual abuse within the church, contact us today to schedule a free and confidential consultation with our Michigan clergy abuse lawyers. 

Sources

This page is based on public records, official Church and diocesan disclosures, legal filings, and survivor reports, including:

• A profile of Joseph Baker on Bishop Accountability’s website
• An article about Baker’s ministry restrictions from The Detroit News
• A press release from the Office of the Attorney General in Michigan
• A public statement from the Archdiocese of Detroit about Baker’s misconduct
• A list of all bishops who served in the Archdiocese of Detroit

No criminal conviction is implied unless explicitly stated in public court records or official Church reports.

All content undergoes thorough legal review by experienced attorneys, including Jonathan Rosenfeld. With 25 years of experience in personal injury law and over 100 years of combined legal expertise within our team, we ensure that every article is legally accurate, compliant, and reflects current legal standards.