UPDATE @ 9:18 a.m. (April 12):
The Archdiocese of Cincinnati said Bowling’s actions were “sad and disappointing”, as is any case of theft from any Catholic parish or institution.
“Whenever that happens, as in this case, the Archdiocese policy is to cooperate fully with the secular legal authorities as to see that justice is done, including restitution of stolen funds,” said Dan Andriacco, communications director for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati.
“The Archdiocese has taken numerous steps in recent years to assist parishes with their financial controls, including the hiring of two full-time parish auditors, adding a confidential fraud hotline to report irregularities, installing a new standardized parish accounting system, and providing parishes with tools to help them secure collections,” Andriacco added.
UPDATE @ 1:17 p.m. (April 11)
Stacy Bowling pleaded guilty today to one count of grant theft in the case of embezzling $45,000 from her employer, St. Albert the Great Catholic Church in Kettering.
Montgomery County Common Pleas Judge Michael Krumholtz sentenced Bowling to probation for one to five years, and she’s ordered to receive treatment, complete 80 hours of community service work, and pay court costs and restitution of $45,006.72.
Bowling has also been trespassed from the church, according to the court.
Bowling was originally in court today after filing for Intervention in Lieu of Conviction. But the judge declined that program.
Bowling will be back in court July 1 for a probation status hearing.
EARLIER REPORT
A woman accused to stealing $45,000 from a Catholic church entered not guilty pleas in court Tuesday.
Stacy Bowling, 40, of Dayton, was indicted last month in Montgomery County for grand theft for stealing money from her employer, St. Albert the Great Catholic Church in Kettering.
Bowling was arraigned in court on Tuesday and was released on her own recognizance.
Between July 2014 and October 2015, Bowling allegedly stole approximately $45,000 from the church.
Bowling was employed by the church as the cafeteria manager and was in charge of that business account. She reportedly wrote checks and made debit card purchases from the church's cafeteria account for her personal use.
If convicted, Bowling could face up to 18 months in prison.
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