Attorney for priest charged in theft case cites 'jurisdictional issues'

By Alexandra Chachkevitch
Chicago Tribune
July 30, 2014

http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/glenview/ct-father-dokos-court-hearing-met-20140730,0,1953440.story

Rev. James Dokos, left, and attorney Patrick Knight in a Milwaukee County courtroom on July 18.

A Greek Orthodox priest charged with felony theft waived his right to a preliminary hearing in a Milwaukee County courtroom this morning.

The Rev. James Dokos, who was affiliated with Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Glenview, is scheduled to be arraigned Aug. 26.

"There are significant jurisdictional issues to address in this matter," Dokos' lawyer Patrick Knight said in court Wednesday. Knight did not specify the issues.

Dokos is accused of improperly spending more than $100,000 from a trust fund intended to benefit Annunciation Church in Milwaukee, where he was a longtime pastor until transferring to Sts. Peter and Paul Church in 2012.

Dokos, 62, who has been suspended from his duties at the Glenview church, made his initial court appearance two weeks ago, where bail was set at $5,000. Because it was a personal recognizance bond, he was not required to post any money for his release.

Dokos' attorneys have denied that Dokos engaged in wrongdoing and said Annunciation members sought the prosecution against him to cover up their own mismanagement of church funds.

Dokos and Knight declined to comment after the hearing.