KXXV-TV News Channel 25 - Central Texas News and Weather for Waco, Temple, Killeen | Waco Police Say Church Employee Steals Over 150-Thousand Dollars

Waco Police Say Church Employee Steals Over 150-Thousand Dollars

by Sara Talbert

WACO - A Waco woman was arrested for allegedly stealing over 150-thousand dollars from a local church. The three-page arrest affidavit outlines how police say 37-year old Patricia Poehls stole from St. Jerome's Catholic Church on Chapel Road in Waco, which was her employer at the time.

According to police it was first discovered Poehls had a draft set up to bill the church at Time Warner. The priest was not aware of the account and was to be the signer of all checks.

His signature was on the checks but it was a computer generated signature. A finance committee then began looking at the church's financial records. Poehls continued working at the church during the initial investigation.

It was also found Poehls had set up a Saint Jerome's Junior High youth group account at a local  bank but the affidavit states the priest was again unaware of the account. The church also did not have access to it.

Poehls was then brought in by Waco Police and gave a statement. She said she assumed the position of church business manager in May 2006. She also said she found an electronic signature of the priest's on the computer and began using it to write out checks she thought would benefit the church.

It was found $48,166.10 was put on a Sam's Club Discover Card. Another $81,953.62 in questionable checks were cashed and $24,209.27 in checks were also made out to Walmart and Sam's. The total was $154,328.99.

Saint Jerome's Catholic Church referred News Channel 25 to their attorney Friday but News Channel 25 did not receive a call back from him regarding this case.