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  Ex-roselle Pastor Charged with Theft

Daily Herald
February 5, 2009

http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=269850&src=2

A former pastor of St. Walter's Catholic Church has been indicted on charges that he stole more than $300,000 from the Roselle parish, the DuPage County state's attorney's office announced Thursday.

Rev. John Regan, 45, is accused of stealing the money between August 2006 and July 2008, according to the indictment. He was removed as the head of St. Walter's last July.

Authorities say Regan, who began serving as pastor in June 2006, accepted cash and checks written by parishioners as church offerings and then deposited the money into an account he opened without the knowledge of church officials. The charges also state that Regan used money from this account for such personal expenses as credit card payments and ATM cash withdrawals at riverboat casinos.

But bank officials noticed account irregularities and raised concerns with the Joliet Diocese. Results of the Diocese's internal audit of parish records were given to the state's attorney's office, resulting in the indictment.

Regan faces nine counts of theft over $100,000 from a place of worship; one count of continuing financial crimes enterprise; seven counts of theft; and four counts of money laundering.

Last July, when the allegations against Regan were unveiled, some church members who spoke with the Daily Herald expressed forgiveness toward Regan, while others said they felt betrayed.

 
 

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