Retired priest extradited to face charges of embezzling from church

By Dominic Adams
MLive
April 4, 2017

http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2017/04/retired_priest_accused_of_embe_6.html

OWOSSO, MI -- A retired priest wanted on suspicion of embezzling nearly $500,000 from a Catholic church in Shiawassee County is expected to be back in Michigan this week to appear in front of a judge.

The Rev. David Fisher was in charge of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Owosso for 23 years and retired to North Dakota in June 2015.

A new pastor was brought in and noticed some figures were off with the parish's finances, according to officials with the Catholic Diocese of Lansing. The Diocese contacted the Michigan State Police and it was recommended a forensic audit, Diebold said.

The audit revealed there was at least $450,000 missing, diocese officials said.

Fisher was arrested in North Dakota on suspicion of seven counts of embezzlement, police previously said.

He is expected to arrive back in Michigan on Wednesday, April 4, and is set for arraignment on Thursday, April 5, according to Michigan State Police Detective Sgt. Mark Pendergraff.

Initially, Fisher was fighting extradition from North Dakota, but later decided to waive the hearing, Pendergraff said. 

Fisher was charged with a count of embezzlement of over $100,000 from a charitable organization and the other six counts of for alleged embezzlement of lesser amounts, Pendergraff previously said. 

Church secretary Nancy DeFrenn also was arrested, according to Pendergraff. She is charged with a single count of embezzlement from a charitable organization of more than $1,000 but less than $20,000.