October 28, 2005

Jersey Priest Admits Stealing $360,000 From Parish

MORRISTOWN (NJ)
CBS 3

AP) MORRISTOWN, N.J. The former pastor of a Roman Catholic church in Morris County has admitted stealing $360,000 from the parish.

The Reverend William Naughton pleaded guilty to theft by deception Thursday.

The 61-year-old was removed from Resurrection Church in Randolph in 2001.

His lawyer says most of the cash was used to help support a man who the priest had a brief sexual relationship with in the 1970s. Harold Reid the Third III was arrested in California in March on charges of trying to extort money from the priest. Those charges were dropped a month ago.

Posted by kshaw at October 28, 2005 07:58 AM