ONTONAGON — A former Ontonagon County priest will stand trial next year on charges of molesting several children during his time in the county in the early 1980s. 

Gary Jacobs, 74, was arraigned in Ontonagon County Circuit Court Wednesday. He was bound over to circuit court in April on eight counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct and two counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct. He also faces a second-degree CSC charge in Dickinson County. 

All stem from alleged incidents between 1981 and 1984, when he was serving as a priest in the area.

First-degree CSC carries a maximum sentence of life in prison. Second-degree charges are punishable by up to 15 years. 

Jacobs is tentatively scheduled to stand trial in February, as the court is not setting any trials for the rest of the year, according to the attorney general’s office. 

Jacobs’ next court dates will be set by the court next week, the attorney general’s office said.