The legal troubles for a former Episcopal priest who pleaded no contest to a charge of embezzling $400,000 from his parish are not over. The local DA is seeking restitution for the costs of prosecution.
Denverpost.com published an AP report:
Prosecutors say they are seeking about $291,000 in restitution from the pastor of a dissident Anglican church.
Don Armstrong of St. George’s Anglican Church in Colorado Springs previously led Grace Episcopal Church and St. Stephen’s Parish but left the Episcopal Diocese of Colorado in 2007 after allegations of financial misconduct surfaced.
He was accused of stealing about $400,000 from his former church to fund his children’s education. Armstrong has said it was a bookkeeping issue and that no money disappeared.
He pleaded no contest to felony theft in September and entered an Alford plea to a misdemeanor theft count, acknowledging a jury might convict him. He and his new church still say he’s innocent.
Sentencing is set for February.