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  More Counts against Priest Accused of Embezzlement
Arraignment Postponed until March 30
NBC 4
March 12, 2007

http://www.nbc4.com/news/11233733/detail.html

Louisa, Va. — Arraignment for a Roman Catholic priest accused of embezzling hundreds of thousands of dollars from two rural parishes was postponed Monday after a grand jury indicted him on 12 additional charges.

The Rev. Rodney L. Rodis was indicted in January on one count of felony embezzlement. The grand jury added 12 additional counts late Friday, defense attorney Jack Maus said. Each count it for a 6-month period, News4's Jane Watrel reported.

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Richmond has said Rodis embezzled more than $600,000 from Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Bumpass and St. Jude Church in Mineral. Rodis, 50, was pastor of the churches from 1993 until his retirement last May.

Louisa Circuit Judge Timothy Sanner rescheduled Rodis' arraignment for March 30. Rodis remains free on $10,000 bond.

The delay disappointed many of the approximately two dozen parishioners who attended the hearing.

"I came expecting to hear a plea," said Bill Hynes, a member of St. Jude. "I want to see justice done and done soon."

Maus said Rodis, if convicted, could be sentenced to up to 20 years on each count.

Court records show that police seized from Rodis' home bank records and other items, including a receipt for Lucky Money dated May 24, 2006. Lucky Money Inc. is a service for wiring money to the Philippines, Rodis' home country.

Authorities alleged Rodis opened an account in a church's name at a bank in Fredericksburg, deposited donations in the account and then diverted them for personal use.

The diocese said it became aware of financial irregularities in the fall when a donor to Immaculate Conception requested verification of a $1,000 contribution for tax purposes and the parish could not find a record of the donation.

The investigation of Rodis also uncovered court records listing Rodis and Joyce Sillador-Rodis as husband and wife on a deed of trust for a mortgage on a house they shared with three children in Spotsylvania County.

Rodis has denied being married to the woman, although neighbors said he has referred to her as his wife for the past decade. According to Maus, the woman and children have moved to New Mexico.

Rodis is facing 260 years in jail, Watrel reported.

Previous Stories:

• February 26, 2007: Lawyer: Priest Suspected Of Embezzlement Could Plead Guilty

• January 18, 2007: Priest Charged In Embezzlement Scheme Appears In Court

• January 17, 2007: Priest Accused Of Leading Double Life, Embezzlement

 
 

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