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	Former Flossmoor Church Worker Charged with Stealing By Matt Walberg Chicago Tribune March 26, 2008 http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-church-embezzle-webmar27,1,7883105.story The former business manager of Infant Jesus of Prague Roman Catholic Church in Flossmoor was ordered held in lieu of bail Wednesday, accused of stealing nearly $260,000 from the south suburban parish. Bail was set at $100,000 for Beverly Houston, 51, who is charged with a Class X felony, carrying a penalty of up to 30 years in prison, as well as forgery, authorities said. At her bond hearing before Cook County Judge Reginald Baker at the Markham Courthouse, prosecutors said that from April 2006 to October 2007, Houston allegedly forged 144 checks totaling $259,455.82, which she cashed at casinos in Indiana. Authorities said they believe Houston used the money to fuel her gambling habit. Houston allegedly took blank checks from the church, used accounting software on her home computer to forge the checks and signed parish pastor William E. Killeen's name to the checks. Killeen, who hired Houston in April 2006, has not been charged with any crime in connection with the Houston case. Houston's parents said Wednesday they had no idea their daughter was in trouble with the law until she was arrested at their home Tuesday. "Really at this point, we don't know more than you do," said Melvin Houston, 74, of the 9300 block of South Paxton Avenue, Chicago. "She just told us she was suspended from her job and was accused of something." Houston said his daughter, a divorced mother of two adult sons, was living with him and his wife and had not found other employment since she was fired from the parish in November. He said that her mother was present in court for the bond hearing, and that the family was trying to see whether it could come up with the $10,000 needed to post bail. Two years ago, more than $1,000 in cash from Sunday collections was missing. Questioning intensified after Killeen installed a wet bar in the rectory and spent $25,000 on new furniture without consulting the church finance council. After Houston was fired, Killeen relinquished his post in December. In a letter to the parish, Cardinal Francis George said the archdiocese was investigating the parish's finances and had asked Killeen, 58, to step down as pastor. The investigation, performed by an independent forensic accountant, uncovered Houston's alleged forgery, said archdiocese spokeswoman Susan Burritt. Killeen is still listed as the pastor at Infant Jesus of Prague on the parish Web site, but Burritt said he does not live or work at the parish, and it is unclear whether he will return to that post. Contact: mwalberg@tribune.com
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