By Rebecca Baker
The Journal News
June 4, 2009
http://lohud.com/article/2009906040365
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| Patrick Dunne |
The Rev. Patrick Dunne was solemn and silent yesterday as he entered a not-guilty plea to stealing $432,000 from his White Plains church, including money intended for Hurricane Katrina victims.
Dunne, the 63-year-old former pastor at Our Lady of Sorrows Church, was arraigned in state Supreme Court in White Plains on an indictment charging him with second-degree grand larceny. He is accused of stealing the money over a six-year period and using it for personal expenses and recreation, including gambling.
The case went to a grand jury last week after months of negotiations between prosecutors and Dunne's lawyer failed to produce a plea bargain. Dunne, pastor of the Mamaroneck Avenue church since 1991, is facing up to 15 years in prison on the felony charge.
His attorney, Richard Ferrante, entered yesterday's plea. Dunne answered "yes" when Justice William A. Wetzel asked him if he realized he must make every court appearance in order to remain free without bail.
Outside court, Ferrante said Dunne wanted to settle the case as soon as possible.
"He dedicated his life to helping other people," Ferrante said. "He's eager to resolve this matter and move on and continue helping people."
The case was assigned to Westchester County Judge Barbara Zambelli, who will meet with both sides at a July 7 conference to discuss how much, if any, restitution will be paid, Ferrante said.
The investigation began in the fall, when staff members at the church alerted the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York after noticing that undocumented checks were being cashed on church accounts.
The District Attorney's Office, which learned about the missing money in February, said the thefts started in 2002.
During that time, the church got a new rectory and parish center hall as part of an expansion for which parishioners contributed nearly $3 million.
The money that was stolen had been donated by parishioners to different fundraising efforts by the church, such as the building fund, a collection for Katrina victims and the weekly offering used for general church expenses. It was also taken from an account that had been set up to pay clergy members who came to the church to celebrate Mass, authorities say.
A spokesman for the archdiocese, Joseph Zwilling, said the archdiocese would not be responsible for repaying any of the money that Dunne is accused of stealing.
Ferrante, a parishioner at Dunne's former church, has conceded that his client had a gambling addiction and said he was now in an outpatient treatment program.
Zwilling said the archdiocese "continues to keep Father Dunne, and all of the parishioners of Our Lady of Sorrows Church, in our prayers."
Contact: rebaker@lohud.com
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