Police: Rockledge priest facing fraud lived above means

By J.d. Gallop
Florida Today
September 6, 2016

http://www.floridatoday.com/story/news/crime/2016/09/06/police-rockledge-priest-facing-fraud-lived-above-means/89909840/

Father Nicholas King, in a 2003 photo, was appointed to the congregation in 1993. Photo by TIM SHORTT

Nicholas King, 73, was arrested and charged with larceny under false pretenses of more than $50,000 from a person older than 65 years of age and scheme to defraud under false pretenses of more than $50,000

St. Mary's Catholic Church in Rockledge.

It began with a simple question from a widow about her bank account and ended with Rockledge detectives and Orlando Diocese accountants poring over financial statements, looking into the spending habits of a longtime priest, 73-year-old Father Nicholas King.

What detectives say they uncovered, according to court documents, was a priest who funneled money into his own private account with expenses that ranged from several hundred dollars in restaurant meals, a $9,000 down payment on a car, $6,000 to his sister, and $700 in spending at a gourmet chocolate shop.

Last week, Father King of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Rockledge, was arrested on charges of grand theft from a person older than 65 years of age in excess of $50,000 and organized fraud involving funds over $50,000, records show. No court date has been set.

Rockledge police began investigating the case August 24 after a 79-year-old widow notified church authorities that her money market account set aside for assisting the church was overdrawn, records show. Police said King was "surprised" by the investigation and denied any wrongdoing.

“(King) has been active at that church for 20-plus years," said Donna Seyferth, spokeswoman for the Rockledge Police Department. She said the widow's concerns were reported to police by the Orlando Diocese.

The diocese did not respond to several messages left by FLORIDA TODAY.

Seyferth said that detectives found that the 73-year-old priest, whose three residences included the rectory provided by the church and a Cocoa Beach condo, was living far above his annual $28,000 salary.

“He said if there were any discrepancies it would need to be addressed with the church’s bookkeeper,” Seyferth said.

Detectives also uncovered potential evidence of other financial concerns at the church when it was learned that King had apparently used the widow’s money to help cover payroll for the church’s Catholic school.

“There were definitely some financial issues involving the church that was part of the case. That’s all probably better left up to the diocese to comment on,” she said.

One email from June 19 was sent from a church staffer to Father King alerting him to the church’s dire financial conditions, records show. The Rockledge congregation held a Jubilee celebration - an occasion to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the priest's ordination - that left the church with a $6,556 deficit, records show. At least $500 was spent on cake for the celebration, police reported.

“Here is the Jubilee information you requested. Also enclosed is a weekly cash flow which indicates that we are out of money and will not have enough to get through July,” wrote the staff person.

Police said the diocese was also conducting its own accounting investigation into the handling of the congregation’s finances. King, who grew up in Ireland and who served several congregations in Central Florida since 1968, was appointed pastor to St. Mary’s Parish in 1993.

King, who recently returned from a trip to his homeland in Ireland, told detectives that he intentionally "hid money from the church diocese in order to prevent them from using the money," court records show.

Detectives sorted through cancelled checks, financial records and bank statements belonging to the widowed parishioner. The woman’s husband originally set up the money market trust account to support the church, records show. When the woman pointed out that the account – which at one point held over $100,000 – was overdrawn, the diocese investigated the case. The Diocese then refunded her $31,200 for the funds that could not be accounted for, records show. King was removed from his duties, Seyferth said.

Bishop John Noonan, who oversees the diocese’s 400,000 Catholics, appointed a new priest for St. Mary effective Sept. 1.

A Brevard County judge stipulated that King – as a condition of his bond – must surrender both his passports from the U.S. and Ireland and that he cannot leave Brevard County pending any court dates. The arrest and the investigation were a swift change of fortune for King, who celebrated his 50th year of service in the church earlier this year. Last Thursday, he was released from the Brevard County Jail Complex after his $87,000 bond was posted, records show.

“Ultimately, it is God who calls people to serve him in whatever capacity he decides,” Father King said in an article produced by the diocese earlier this year. “Fortunately for us priests, he sustains us in our mission for which we have to be eternally grateful. What one learns after 50 years is trust in the promise.”