N.Y. priest who stole $800K gets prison
Pastor Dale Morgan
N.Y. priest who stole $800K gets prison*
Posted 9/23/2006 11:02 AM ET
NEW YORK (AP) — An apologetic Roman Catholic priest was sentenced to
prison for stealing more than $800,000 from his parish to finance
vacations, country clubs and fancy clothes.
"I am truly, truly sorry for what has taken place," Monsignor John
Woolsey said Friday before a judge sentenced him to one to four years in
prison. "I used money to which I had no right. I am deeply, deeply sorry
for my conduct."
Woolsey, 68, who was pastor of the Church of Saint John the Martyr,
pleaded guilty to grand larceny in May in return for the sentence. He
could have gotten up to 15 years in prison if convicted and will be
eligible for parole in one year.
Assistant District Attorney Matthew Amatruda said Woolsey spent the
money on luxuries for himself, including expensive watches, trips to
Europe, golfing vacations, fancy clothes and cosmetic dentistry. Woolsey
doctored church records to hide what he had stolen, the prosecutor said.
State Supreme Court Justice Bruce Allen received dozens of letters on
behalf of Woolsey, which he said he considered in deciding the sentence.
One letter, signed by Cardinal Edward Egan, asked that when Allen
sentenced Woolsey, he "take into consideration the more than 40 years of
service to others that Monsignor has given as a priest of the
Archdiocese of New York."
Woolsey's attorney, Nicholas DeFeis said he "couldn't think of a case
where a jail sentence was less necessary. I really believe the
appropriate sentence would be a sentence of community service."
The judge also ordered Woolsey to pay $50,000 restitution in addition to
$200,000 he has already paid. The judge said that if Woolsey is
destitute, as his lawyers claimed, then he would have a hearing on the
restitution amount.