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	Ex-Burlco Principal: Thefts Prompted by Abuse As Teen By Sam Wood and Troy Graham Philadelphia Inquirer February 19, 2008 http://www.philly.com/inquirer/special/priest_abuse/20080219_N_J__principal__ Abuse_stirred_thefts_He_stole_from_a_Burlco_school__he_said__angry_at_sexual_abuse_he_said_he_suffered_as_a_ teen_.html The former principal of Burlington County's only Catholic high school said he embezzled from the school partly to get back at the church for sexual abuse he endured as a teenage seminary student. An attorney for Joseph Lemme raised the alleged abuse in a plea for leniency at Lemme's sentencing in Superior Court last week. Lemme, principal at Holy Cross High School from 2002 to 2006, received a five-year prison term on Friday for stealing more than $415,000 from the school, which struggled with declining enrollment and financial problems during Lemme's tenure. He can apply for an intensive early release program. He was jailed last week after his sentencing. Lemme 51, of Wall Township in Monmouth County, plans to pay back the money he stole, and he "wants to tell the world he's not a garden-variety embezzler," his attorney, Michael Pappa, said yesterday. "It's a horrible story, and there's a lot to it," Pappa said. "It's more than just taking money out of greed." Lemme said he was abused while he was a 13-year-old student at a now-closed junior seminary in New York. In 2002, he and three other former students filed a civil suit alleging abuse there from 1969 to 1973, according to published reports. Pappa said that suit, which was filed in Westchester County, N.Y., was tossed out of court because the allegations were too old. Lemme's civil attorney for that case did not return a phone call seeking comment yesterday. But, Pappa said, the church paid Lemme $50,000 when the case was dismissed. "I call it hush money and a mercy payment," he said. "In Joe's eyes, they got away with it." He said Lemme had wanted to be a priest since he was 13 years old. But after he complained about abuse at the New York seminary, he was kicked out of the school. Although Lemme enrolled in another seminary and completed the program, he decided against taking his vows, Pappa said. He became a teacher instead. Lemme was named principal at Holy Cross the same year he filed his lawsuit. Pappa said his family knew nothing about his allegations of abuse until then. "He felt the church had done him wrong," Pappa said. "That's why he started taking money." After promising a statement concerning Lemme, a spokeswoman for the Diocese of Trenton did not respond to e-mails or phone messages. At Holy Cross, Lemme admitted that he routed tuition payments, money from book and uniform sales and field trip money to his personal bank account. He was prosecuted in Monmouth County because that was the location of his bank. Lemme also admitted to falsifying documents to appear that he had purchased school furniture and equipment with his personal credit card and then submitting them for reimbursement. During his tenure, Holy Cross struggled with debt and dropping enrollment. The Diocese of Trenton considered closing the school in 2003. The school turned around its fortunes and enrollment began to increase toward the end of Lemme's time, and he was praised for raising academic standards. But the diocese discovered "financial irregularities" in a 2006 audit. Lemme was suspended that year and later fired. "Some say he's as guilty as any other greedy embezzler," Pappa said. "He understands that. But he feels tremendous guilt and remorse and intends to pay it all back." Contact staff writer Sam Wood at 215-854-2796 or samwood@phillynews.com
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