Accused Troy Priest Edward Belczak Fights for Access to Frozen Assets

Deadline Detroit
May 25, 2013

http://www.deadlinedetroit.com/articles/4987/accused_troy_priest_edward_belczak_fights_for_access_to_frozen_assets#.UaMuTpzm7Kd

Edward Belczak was suspended in February as pastor of St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Troy.

Suspended suburban priest Edward Belczak isn't waiting quietly while authorities investigate Detroit Archdiocese embezzlement claims against him.

The former pastor of St, Thomas More Catholic Church is suing Troy in an attempt to have his bank safe deposit box and Merrill Lynch brokerage account unfrozen, Dave Phillips reports in The Oakland Press.

Attorneys for Belczak, 67, filed the suit this week in Oakland County Circuit Court. . . .Belczak’s assets have been frozen since Feb. 5, when a search warrant was obtained by the Troy Police Department. . . .

Belczak is accused of mishandling at least $429,000. He is accused of paying a “ghost employee” $240,000 and taking $92,000 more than what he was supposed to receive in compensation.

His court filing says the city "has wrongfully seized [Belczak’s] property rights and interests” without .