OMAHA (NE)
KOHA [Omaha NE]
March 30, 2022
By Joe Jordan
A once high-ranking Omaha priest, is in better legal shape than he was, but still stands accused of stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars and faces years in prison.
A once high-ranking Omaha priest, is in better legal shape than he was, but still stands accused of stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars and faces years in prison.
73-year-old Father Michael Gutgsell —accused of stealing nearly $100,000 from St. Joseph Church in Springfield—has had the Sarpy County charges dismissed.
At the same time, Gutgsell is still awaiting trial in Douglas County where he’s accused of raiding the bank account of priest who was in poor health. Gutgsell, who had power of attorney over Fr. Ted Richling, is accused of stealing $155,000 from Richling, who died a few years ago and was named in a recent state investigation detailing widespread sexual abuse by Catholic clergy.
Sarpy County Attorney Lee Polikov tells News Channel Nebraska the case outside Omaha was dismissed in part because Gutgsell has repaid St. Joseph’s in full—restitution of $96,400.
In addition, Polikov says he was not convinced a jury would find Gutgsell guilty beyond a reasonable doubt because the former Chancellor of the Omaha Archdiocese was making loans to a person who was taking advantage of him.
Asked how Gutgsell was able to repay the church, Polikov says he does not know.
Gutgsell is also accused of failing to tell police about at least two accusations of sexual abuse involving priests in the Omaha archdiocese. One of those priests was Richling.