Former Bonneauville Priest Released on Unsecured Bail

Evening Sun
November 2, 2012

http://www.eveningsun.com/news/ci_21906010/former-bonneauville-priest-released-unsecured-bail

A preliminary arraignment was held Thursday for the priest accused of stealing more than $380,000 from his former church, St. Joseph the Worker Parish in Bonneauville.

Caesar A. Belchez, 52, was released on $50,000 unsecured bail. He faces third-degree felony charges of theft by unlawful taking, theft by failure to make required disposition of funds received, and access device fraud.

Belchez was assigned by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg to the Bonneauville church from 2006 to 2011. During that time, police say he stole $384,750.76 from the church in cash, checks and credit cards issued to the parish.

His alleged activities were discovered by the priest who replaced him when Belchez moved to St. Joseph's Parish in Dallastown as part of a regular change of assignments, according to the Diocese.

Belchez is scheduled for a preliminary hearing in Adams County Central Court Nov. 21.

According to Adams County District Attorney Shawn Wagner, Belchez faces a maximum sentence of 21 years in prison and $45,000 in fines if he's convicted of the charges against him.