Illinois priest, Fr. John Regan, who is accused of stealing $400,000 from parishioners at a parish church, then gambling away much of the money, has pleaded not guilty to felony theft charges.The Chicago Sun-Times reports that Fr. John Regan could face up to 30 years in prison if convicted of the thefts from St. Walter Church, which DuPage County authorities contend the 45-year-old priest carried out to fund his gambling and pay his credit card bills.
Regan, who had been jailed since Feb. 9, was released from custody today after a judge lowered his bail from $1 million to $100,000.
Defense attorneys said Regan's family posted the $10,000 needed to secure his release. The longtime priest will stay at a southwest suburban church rectory, where he will be supervised by religous officials but won't have access to church funds.
"He presents no danger to the community,"‚ said defense attorney John Donahue, who argued successfully for a lower bond.
Regan was charged earlier this month with pilfering an estimated $400,000 from the church where he served as pastor between 2006 and July 2008.
A church audit last year turned up missing funds at St. Walter, prompting church officials to remove Regan from his post and to contact DuPage County prosecutors, who conducted their own investigation, then filed criminal charges.
Regan has been undergoing therapy for gambling problems at a site in Pennsylvania, church officials have said, but he was barred today from returning there while his criminal case is pending.
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