Today in Thieving Priests

By Chuck Sudo in News on Jun 9, 2011 9:45PM

A Catholic priest pleaded guilty today to felony theft charges in an attempt to be eligible for probation. Rev. John Regan admitted that he stole over $400,000 from his St. Walter Parish in Roselle between 2006 and 2008. Regan used the money to fuel his gambling addiction and to pay off credit card debt. Regan's plea is part of a reduced plea deal that could make eligible for probation, but prosecutor Helen Kapas said she intends to seek a prison term of up to 15 years and full restitution.

Another priest who served as a chaplain in the federal prison system was indicted today on charges that he passed along messages from convicted Outfit hitman Frank Calabrese, Sr. and for conspiring with Calabrese and associates in trying to hide some of the mobster's personal effects from seizure. Rev. Richard Klein was charged with one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and one count of attempting to transfer Calabrese’s personal property to prevent its seizure by the government. the property in question was a violin in Calabrese's onetime Wisconsin residence that he told Klein was a Stradivarius. Klein allegedly tried to recover the violin so that it wouldn't be seized by the government for auction, with its proceeds going toward the $4.4 million restitution judgment for the familiess of Calabrese's victims.