WORCESTER, Mass. (AP) – A Roman Catholic priest pleaded innocent Monday to stealing more than $250,000 from the Fitchburg parish where he served as pastor.
The Rev. Donald Ouellette, 48, was released on his own recognizance following his arraignment in Worcester Superior Court on 18 counts of larceny over $250.
Ouellette was accused of writing more than 207 checks to himself from a parish bank account while pastor of the Immaculate Conception parish, prosecutors said.
Following Ouellette’s indictment, Bishop Daniel P. Reilly said the diocese learned of the missing funds from the parish finance committee earlier this year and contacted prosecutors after an internal investigation.
The parish has been raising money to install an elevator at the church, said diocesan spokesman Ray Deslisle.
Ouellette, who had been in the diocese since 1990 and at the parish for about two years, was placed on sick leave March 7. Following his indictment Sept. 9, Ouellette was placed on administrative leave and barred from priestly duties by Bishop Reilly.
A pretrial conference was scheduled for Oct. 22.
AP-ES-09-22-03 1513EDT
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