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	Priest Cleared in St. Landry Theft Probe By Richard Burgess The Advocate October 19, 2006 http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/4433246.html Opelousas — The St. Landry Parish District Attorney's Office cleared a Port Barre priest on theft charges Wednesday, saying an investigation has found no evidence against him. The District Attorney's Office also issued a statement contradicting accusations by Port Barre police that the Roman Catholic Diocese of Lafayette was uncooperative in the investigation of the Rev. Charles Nicholas Trahan. "The Diocese of Lafayette initiated and cooperated with the investigation and the record contains no evidence of it or any of its employees or representatives obstructing or impeding that investigation," First Assistant District Attorney Frank Trosclair said in a written statement. Port Barre police booked Trahan on theft charges earlier this month in connection with more than $60,000 in missing funds at Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church. He was named as a suspect days after longtime church secretary Ramona Speyrer, 50, was booked on theft charges in the investigation, which began when attorneys for the diocese alerted police to the alleged embezzlement. Church officials said their internal investigation yielded no evidence against Trahan, but Port Barre Police Chief David Richard said that Speyrer, under questioning by detectives, alleged the priest was also involved in the scheme. "The evidence does not substantiate nor warrant allegations or charges of any criminal conduct whatsoever as to Father Charles Nicholas Trahan and therefore we decline to institute criminal charges as to him," Trosclair said in the statement. Trosclair said that Trahan and officials with the diocese cooperated with police and did nothing to obstruct the investigation. He said the diocese provided an extensive written statement detailing its internal investigation and allowed detectives to obtain video-taped statements from diocese representatives who were involved in the investigation. Richard did not return a call to his office Wednesday for comment. Trahan has been on administrative leave pending the resolution of the case. He will return to priestly duties in Port Barre within the next few days, according to a statement from Diocese of Lafayette Bishop Michael Jarrell. The bishop offered no specific date. "I commend the congregation for their patience and support during trying times," Jarrell said in the statement. Speyrer is still charged in the scheme. Trosclair declined to discuss specifics of her case.
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