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	Ex-priest at City Church Charged in Theft of $400,000 Reading Eagle February 10, 2011 http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=285353 A former Roman Catholic priest and former pastor of a Reading church was arrested Wednesday and charged with stealing more than $400,000 that had been donated to the parish, investigators said. Richard Nachajski, 64, of York surrendered to Berks County detectives and was arraigned before District Judge Stuart D. Kennedy on charges of theft, forgery and related offenses. He remained free to await further court action. According to court documents: Nachajski had been pastor of St. Anthony of Padua Roman Catholic Church, Millmont, from 1992 to 2009, when he was granted a leave of absence for personal reasons. When Nachajski failed to return from leave, officials from the Diocese of Allentown appointed another pastor. A routine audit conducted by the diocese following the change of pastors in 2009 uncovered financial irregularities, which led church officials to call county detectives in November of that year. Using church financial records going back to 2002, investigators found unusual bills, including the purchases of a time-share in a Mexican condo for $13,000 and a vehicle. According to detectives: Nachajski took money bequeathed to the church by two parishioners and transferred the funds to various church accounts, some of which only he knew about and could access. From those accounts, he wrote checks, totaling more than $325,000, to himself or to credit card companies for purchases he had made. An analysis of church finances showed Nachajski misappropriated more than $400,000. He used the money for international travel for himself and an unnamed companion, and for other items. Nachajski is no longer a priest, officials said. The diocese plans to file an insurance claim, officials said. Contact Steven Henshaw: or shenshaw@readingeagle.com
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