By Matt Gryta
Buffalo News
October 5, 2009
http://www.buffalonews.com/home/story/818515.html
F. Norman Sullivan, a suspended Catholic priest, today was spared a jail term for embezzling $213,732 from a Cheektowaga parish because the money has been repaid.
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| F. Norman Sullivan has repaid the $213,732 he embezzled from Most Holy Redeemer Parish in Cheektowaga. Photo by Bill Wippert |
State Supreme Court Justice Russell P. Buscaglia ordered Sullivan, 74, to perform 1,000 hours of community service while he is on court-supervised probation for the next five years and ordered him to submit to warrantless searches while he remains under court control.
Sullivan, who pleaded guilty July 16 to third-degree grand larceny to theft of money from the former Most Holy Redeemer Parish from May 30, 2000 until Jan. 31, 2008, told the judge "I am truly sorry." Sullivan, who was dressed in civilian clothing, also told the judge he is "disgraced and embarrased."
Noel F. Bartlo, Sullivan's attorney, told the judge his client made "one huge mistake" in an otherwise "good life" and remains more concerned about his eventual spiritual sentence.
Buscaglia, noting Sullivan owns property outside of Western New York, warned him that he needs to get permission either from him or from officials of the Erie County Probation Department to travel outside of the eight-county Western New York court district in which he must serve his sentence.
The judge also ordered Sullivan to pay $375 in court fees within the next 30 days.
Buscaglia said he rejected a Probation Department recommendation that Sullivan only perform 200 hours of community serving, but he said he will allow probation officers to determine where the 1,000 hours will be performed.
Neither Sullivan nor his sister or nephew, who came to court with him, would comment as they left court about 11:15 a.m.
Since his guilty plea Sullivan has been barred from saying Mass or administering any of his church's sacraments or even dressing in priestly clothing.
Since 2004, the Erie County District Attorney's Office has prosecuted at least five other embezzlements from Catholic parishes and schools, ranging from $230,000 to $488,000.
Contact: mgryta@buffnews.com
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