Former worker charged in archdiocese theft

• Tweet

ST. PAUL, Minn., June 15 (UPI) -- A former Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis accounting director was arrested Friday on seven counts of theft by swindle, authorities said.

In a statement, the archdiocese said it had placed the former lay employee on administrative leave earlier this year after accounting department workers "identified irregularities related to documentation of certain credit card transactions."

The archdiocese said it took the action after conducting its own investigation and "as additional evidence was uncovered, an independent committee was appointed to oversee the investigation, the individual in question was dismissed, and all information was immediately turned over to law enforcement."

A criminal complaint filed in Ramsey County District Court said the suspect, Scott Joseph Domeier, 50, had been diverting church funds since 2008 to cover personal expenses including private school tuition for his children and credit card balances, The St. Paul Pioneer Press reported.

In its statement, the archdiocese repeated a statement it had issued in March, saying the case "will not affect the Archdiocese's ability to meet its financial obligations or other responsibilities, including those to parishes, schools and employees."

The statement said its total loss came to about $770,000.