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	Former Delray Priest Surrenders for Prison Term South Florida Sun-Sentinell May 2, 2009 http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/breakingnews/sfl-delray-priest-skehan-050209,0,1940932.story DELRAY BEACH - A priest who pleaded guilty in January to stealing from his Delray Beach parish turned himself in Friday to begin his 14-month prison sentence, records show. The Rev. John Skehan, 81, was sentenced to prison in March for grand theft of more than $100,000 from St. Vincent Ferrer Catholic Church. Investigators say Skehan stole $370,000 that he spent on a girlfriend, trips, homes and other property in Florida and his native Ireland. "The crime of the defendant was pure greed unmasked," Palm Beach Circuit Judge Jeffrey Colbath said at the sentencing. "There was not a shred of moral necessity to excuse the defendant's crime." Skehan had faced between 22 months and 30 years in prison for his crimes. He pleaded guilty in January, avoiding a trial. He entered an "open plea," meaning he threw himself on the mercy of the judge and there were no guarantees of what sentence he would receive. Colbath also sentenced Skehan to seven years of probation, and Skehan is forbidden to return to St. Vincent's or participate in church activities there. Skehan surrendered a condominium worth $366,000 as restitution, as well as $39,000 in cash and a coin collection estimated to be worth $381,000. Skehan's successor at St. Vincent's, Francis Guinan, 66, was found guilty in February of stealing between $20,000 and $100,000 from the church to support trips, a girlfriend and gambling. He was sentenced to four years in prison and ordered to repay $99,999 - the maximum amount allowed.
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