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	Fla. Priest Accused of Theft Pleads Guilty By Brian Skoloff Associated Press January 21, 2009 http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5j0YwVeC6DJ9cH33TnFJffa9v7qgwD95RJLMO0 WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — One of two Florida priests accused of embezzling hundreds of thousands of dollars from church pleaded guilty on Wednesday, the same day jury selection was set to begin in the case. Authorities accuse Monsignor John Skehan and the Rev. Francis Guinan of bilking parishioners at St. Vincent Ferrer Catholic Church in Delray Beach for years. The two are charged with stealing more than $850,000 to fund lavish lifestyles in what authorities say could be one of the biggest embezzlement cases to hit the U.S. Catholic Church. Both priests had pleaded not guilty to grand theft. But on Wednesday, Skehan, 81, changed his plea to guilty. His attorney, Scott Richardson, said Skehan accepts full responsibility. "Father Skehan accepted responsibility for his actions by virtue of his guilty plea," Richardson said outside court. "It's been extraordinarily difficult for him from the beginning." Sentencing for Skehan is set for March 20. Richardson said he could receive up to 31 years in prison or as little as probation, and was hoping for leniency from the judge. Guinan's trial was delayed until Feb. 18. His attorney, Richard Barlow, said he would prove Guinan, 66, did nothing wrong, and that Skehan's plea does not affect his case. "The fact that they were both priests and were at the same church doesn't make my guy guilty," Barlow said, adding that he would prove Guinan spent the money on church business. He said most of the money the state accuses Guinan of stealing was spent on cash payments to church employees. "It's a normal thing to do in the Catholic church, make cash payments," Barlow said. "We certainly can show that the state's allegation is not correct." Prosecutors did not immediately return a telephone message on Wednesday. Guinan is accused of stealing $488,000 during the 19 months after he became pastor in September 2003. Skehan, who had been at the church 40 years, is accused of taking $370,000 between 2001 and 2006. Church auditors, however, believe the figure is more than $8 million. (This version CORRECTS sentencing date to March 20.)
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