MICHIGAN
Detroit Free Press
Patricia Montemurri, Detroit Free Press December 1, 2015
The Rev. Edward Belczak was sentenced Tuesday to 27 months in prison for stealing $573,000 from the St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Troy, where he had served as pastor for almost 30 years.
U.S. District Judge Arthur Tarnow handed down the sentence.
Belczak made a lengthy plea to the judge for mercy, citing scripture and also revealing that he had suicidal thoughts because of the public humiliation.
“I have stained the reputation of being a priest,” said Belczak.
Belczak, 70, pleaded guilty Sept. 1 to one count of mail fraud in connection with the embezzlement and is paying $573,000 in restitution. Prosecutors had asked for a 37-month prison sentence. But Belczak’s supporters had sent dozens of letters to the judge asking for leniency for the charismatic priest, whose popularity had contributed to growing St. Thomas into one of the largest, most prosperous parishes in the Archdiocese of Detroit. Belczak’s attorney, Jerome Sabbota, had asked that the priest be granted probation or home detention.
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