ANN ARBOR, MI – A religious volunteer at the Washtenaw County Jail has been found guilty of inappropriately touching inmates during prayer sessions.

After a four-day trial, a jury found Robert Roleke guilty Thursday, Dec. 5, of two counts of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct through force or coercion, court records show.

Roleke, 82, of Whitmore Lake, was charged in 2018, six years after an inmate told officers Roleke grabbed his genitals during a “fake” prayer session in 2012, records show.

Roleke has maintained his innocence throughout the case, and his attorney, James Fifelski, questioned the motivation of the inmate, citing his criminal history and drug use.

Fifelski also stated there could be anti-religious sentiment in the case, due to an onslaught of sexual assault charges against Catholic priests in recent years.

The victim, a 40-year-old man, testified in January at a preliminary examination that he met with Roleke, known as “Brother Bob,” multiple times during a stint at the jail at 2201 Hogback Road, transcripts show.

The man, who The Ann Arbor News is declining to name as a reported victim of sexual assault, was in jail after pleading guilty to retail fraud, he said.

Roleke was working as a Christian volunteer at the jail at the time of the incident, between November and December 2012, retired Washtenaw County sheriff’s Sgt. Richard Williams testified, according to court transcripts.

Williams worked at the jail and Roleke oversaw the Christian volunteers, Williams said.

At the man’s final prayer session with him, Roleke put his hand on the man’s shoulder and thigh, the man said. He then rubbed his inner thigh, the man said.

"He grabbed my d**k. And um, I just blacked out, spazzed out.,” the man said.

The man told Williams that other inmates were having similar problems, Williams said. After speaking with another inmate, Williams had Roleke's access to the jail revoked and contacted detectives.

Roleke is scheduled for sentencing Jan. 22 before Washtenaw County Trail Judge Archie Brown. He remains free on a $5,000 bond.

Fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct is a high court misdemeanor punishable by up to two years in prison.