DETROIT — The criminal case against the teen who sexually assaulted a 14-year-old girl at St. Peter Parish in Mount Clemens reached a resolution in late May, while the archdiocesan investigation into the pastor’s handling of the situation continues.

Michael Lentini, 19, of Macomb Township was sentenced May 23 to two years’ probation for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl on parish property in 2011. Lentini had pleaded guilty to a charge of third-degree criminal sexual conduct after his arrest in February.

Under Michigan law, the age of consent for a female is 16, and a younger female is considered incapable of giving consent.

Fr. Michael Cooney, St. Peter’s pastor, returned to the parish the weekend of April 21-22, after Archbishop Allen Vigneron lifted the temporary measures that had restricted Fr. Cooney’s public ministry for nine weeks.

But although Fr. Cooney has been allowed to resume his ministry, the archdiocese is continuing its review of the case in the context of canon law, said a statement from the archdiocesan Communications Department.

“Fr. Cooney is well aware of this, and his legal rights are being fully respected and protected in the process,” said the statement, which was distributed to St. Peter parishioners the weekend of his return.

At the heart of the Church’s investigation has been an effort to determine “what Fr. Cooney knew; how he knew what he knew; and when he reported what he knew to law enforcement authorities,” the statement continued.

“Additionally, there was the question why Fr. Cooney — who was not aware that the sexual assaults occurred on parish property until he was notified by law enforcement officials, but had been aware that inappropriate sexual contact was occurring between an adult male and a 14-year-old girl, both of whom were actively involved in parish ministry — failed in his response to protect the victim by way of promptly reporting what he knew to law enforcement authorities or preventing contact on Church property between the victim and perpetrator,” the statement explained.

According to the statement, “Fr. Cooney has come to a better understanding of the issues involving him in this matter.”

And it quoted Fr. Cooney as saying: “I believed in good conscience at the time that I was handling the matter appropriately. However, I now understand I did not handle the matter appropriately and I deeply regret that my inaction possibly contributed to the injury that occurred.

“I am firmly committed to adhering to the child protection laws of the State of Michigan and the laws and policies of the Archdiocese of Detroit in reporting child abuse or neglect to civil authorities and providing a safe environment for the protection of children and young people. My prayers go out to the victim and to all who have been affected by this most tragic case,” Fr. Cooney said.

Archbishop Vigneron has asked that parish members continue to pray for God’s grace to bring healing — most especially for everyone directly involved in the matter.