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	Priests Pleads in Embezzlement Case LaCrosse Tribune July 14, 2010 http://lacrossetribune.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/article_075b60b8-8fa5-11df-ad61-001cc4c002e0.html A Catholic priest accused of embezzling about $200,000 from two Crawford County parishes and the Diocese of La Crosse entered an Alford plea today to reduced charges. The Rev. Robert Chukwu, 59, made the plea in Crawford County Circuit Court to three counts of misdemeanor theft and entered an 18-month deferred prosecution agreement, said Jim Birnbaum, attorney for the La Crosse Diocese. The plea means Chukwu admits no wrongdoing but concedes a jury likely would have found him guilty. Two of the three charges will be dismissed after 18 months if Chukwu obeys all conditions of the agreement, Birnbaum said. A restitution amount will be determined at a later hearing. A felony theft charge filed Jan. 29 accused Chukwu of sending money and items to priests, a nun, a school and family in Nigeria between Jan. 1, 2007, and Dec. 31, 2009, according to the complaint. He holds dual citizenship in the U.S. and Nigeria and had been assigned to St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Gays Mills and St. Phillip’s Catholic Church in Soldiers Grove. For more on this story, see Thursday's Tribune or check back at www.lacrossetribune.com.
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