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	Organist Accused in Church Theft Appears in Court By Raja Abdulrahim Times Herald-Record September 27, 2007 http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070927/NEWS/709270316/-1/NEWS Goshen — Catholic church parishioners were shocked and disappointed to hear that the music director had been charged with stealing more than $12,000 in church donations. Jimrae K. Lenser of Campbell Hall was arrested Monday, accused of stealing the money in the form of cash and checks from St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church over a five-month period. Police had been investigating the missing money for three weeks. Lenser played the organ at several of the weekend Masses. Lenser appeared in Village Court yesterday, dressed in long, denim shorts and a dark gray T-shirt; his wrists and ankles handcuffed and linked with a chain to a belt around his waist. He sat on a folding chair in the court and appeared at times to be crying. Two reporters and a church member were the only audience in the courtroom. The church member, who would not give his name, said he came to see for himself what happened. The church is six months into a pledge drive, as part of the New York Archdiocese's bicentennial, trying to raise $1 million in two years, said parishioner Kevin Sullivan. "Someone's giving to the church and someone's fleecing the church," Sullivan said, noting it was a betrayal of trust. The church has already raised $327,451, according to the Sept. 23 church bulletin. In court, Lenser, 53, was given another court date in two weeks.He has not posted bail, which had been previously set at $15,000. His lawyer, Bruce Dunn, who did not know his client would appear before the court yesterday, was in Westchester County surrogate court at the time. Assistant District Attorney Christopher Borek, who was at the hearing, said Lenser has no prior convictions. Lenser, a member of the American Guild of Organists Central Hudson Valley chapter, is an organist at other local churches, and police were contacting them to see if similar thefts had occurred there. Village of Goshen police Chief Jim Watt could not be reached for comment despite repeated attempts.
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