CALIFORNIA
Visalia Times-Delta
Luis Hernandez, lfhernan@visaliatimesdelta.com
January 7, 2015
Former St. Rita’s Catholic Church priest, the Rev. Ignacio Villafan, was placed on paid administrative leave following his arrest last week on embezzlement charges.
Roman Catholic Diocese of Fresno Chancellor Teresa Dominguez said Villafan “has been removed from an active role” in the church.
Villafan, 49, was taken into custody on two counts of felony grand theft after a lengthy investigation into the church’s handling of its finances. A $50,000 bail was ordered for Villafan when he was arrested last week. According to Tulare County Sheriff’s Department jail records, Villafan is no longer in custody, likely having posted bail. He’s scheduled for an arraignment at Tulare County Superior Court on Jan. 22.
Villafan faces a maximum seven-year prison sentence. Previously, Tulare County Assistant District Attorney Anthony Fultz indicated that’s an unlikely outcome.
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