CANADA
CBC News
A popular Ottawa priest who stole $130,000 from his church is expected to find out Wednesday morning whether or not he will be sent to jail for his crimes.
Father Joe LeClair, a diagnosed pathological gambler, pleaded guilty to defrauding Blessed Sacrament of the money over the course of five years.
LeClair was the kind of leader that drew people in but his criminal confession has pulled parishioners apart, said Thea Boyd. She used to travel from Blossom Park in south Ottawa to the Glebe for church — specifically for LeClair.
“He just drew you in and right away your faith was restored. He just had that charisma about him,” she said. “We still feel that. We could still repeat some of his homilies that he did. He would make you cry and then he would make you laugh.”
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