Prosecutors review checks as part of priest embezzlement case

By Brian Johnson
ABC 30 ActiNews (KFSN)
December 11, 2017

http://abc30.com/prosecutors-review-checks-as-part-of-priest-embezzlement-case-/2770689/

A South Valley priest accused of stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from his church was back in court Monday.

52-year-old Ignacio Villafan was the former priest at Rita's Catholic Church in Tulare. His preliminary hearing continued on Monday, and Gerrie Lenn Pimentel again took the witness stand.

As director of parish financial reporting for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Fresno, she discovered discrepancies that eventually lead to Villafan's arrest in late 2014.

Prosecutors say Villafan stole $425,000 from St. Rita's between 2005 and 2012.

On Monday, they reviewed copies of checks with Pimentel -- those she deemed an inappropriate use of funds. They included one from St. Rita's building fund to AAA life insurance, signed by Villafan.

There were others from the church to a dentist, also signed by Villafan. Pimentel says those payments were determined to be for a member of his family.

Villafan remains out of custody.

The diocese says he's still on administrative leave pending the outcome of this case. He could spend seven years in prison if convicted.