Former Catholic Priest Pleads Not Guilty to Embezzlement Charges
By Bill Freehling
Free Lance-Star [Louisa VA]
March 30, 2007
http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2007/032007/03302007/0330rodis
A former Catholic priest in Louisa County pleaded not guilty today to 13 charges of embezzling funds from two Catholic churches he served as pastor.
A weeklong trial was scheduled for Oct. 1-5 for Rodney Lee Rodis, 50, on the charges he stole funds from his former parishes, St. Jude and Immaculate Conception Catholic churches. Police have said the thefts may have exceeded $1 million.
Rodis' bond was increased from $10,000 to $25,000 today and he was taken into custody while arrangements were made for his bond. His lawyer, Jack Maus, said he would be able to make his bond. Rodis was indicted on the first embezzlement charge Jan. 8. and 12 additional charges were added earlier this month. The initial indictment accused Rodis of stealing from the churches between September 2001 and October 2006. The new indictments charge him with stealing during 12 separate six-month periods between September 1995 and September 2001.
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| Rodney Lee Rodis (center, with cane) is escorted to the Louisa County Courthouse with his attorney, John Maus, for a court appearance in January. Photo by Robert A. Martin, The Free Lance-Star |
The former priest lives in the Sheraton Hills area of Spotsylvania County. He is a native of the Philippines and had to surrender his passport to get bond. He had been living with 44-year-old Joyce Sillador and three girls, but those four recently moved to New Mexico. Rodis remains to face the charges in Louisa.
Rodis was pastor at St. Jude and Immaculate Conception Catholic churches for 13 years. He retired in May, citing health reasons.
State police began investigating last year when a parishioner donated $1,000 and asked for a receipt. There was no record of it.
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