Former Reverend Andre Matthews Sentenced to Two Years for Stealing over $170,000 from Church

By Kristin Byrne
The Newsnet5
October 30, 2013

http://www.newsnet5.com/dpp/news/local_news/cleveland_metro/former-priest-sentenced-to-two-years-for-stealing-over-170000-from-church

[with video]

CLEVELAND, Ohio - A former Cleveland reverend was sentenced to serve two years in prison Wednesday for stealing over $170,000 from a church.

Andre Matthews, 54, a former reverend at St. Helena Catholic Church, stole the money from the church's bingo events.

He is also accused of stealing over $100,000 from a parishioner.

Church members attended today's sentencing to hear the man's fate. He pleaded for leniency from the judge, arguing that he suffers from kidney disease and cannot get good medical care in prison.