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Rodis pleads not guilty
Former Catholic priest pleads not guilty to embezzlement charges.
Date published: 3/30/2007
A former Catholic priest in Louisa County pleaded not guilty today to 13
charges of embezzling funds from two Catholic churches he served as pastor.
A weeklong trial was scheduled for Oct. 1-5 for Rodney Lee Rodis, 50, on
the charges he stole funds from his former parishes, St. Jude and Immaculate
Conception Catholic churches. Police have said the thefts may have exceeded
$1 million.
Rodis' bond was increased from $10,000 to $25,000 today and he was taken
into custody while arrangements were made for his bond. His lawyer, Jack
Maus, said he would be able to make his bond. Rodis was indicted on the
first embezzlement charge Jan. 8. and 12 additional charges were added
earlier this month. The initial indictment accused Rodis of stealing from
the churches between September 2001 and October 2006. The new indictments
charge him with stealing during 12 separate six-month periods between
September 1995 and September 2001.
The former priest lives in the Sheraton Hills area of Spotsylvania
County. He is a native of the Philippines and had to surrender his passport
to get bond. He had been living with 44-year-old Joyce Sillador and three
girls, but those four recently moved to New Mexico. Rodis remains to face
the charges in Louisa.
Rodis was pastor at St. Jude and Immaculate Conception Catholic churches
for 13 years. He retired in May, citing health reasons.
State police began investigating last year when a parishioner donated $1,000
and asked for a receipt. There was no record of it.
-- Reported by Bill Freehling, The Free Lance-Star
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Date published: 3/30/2007
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