4th Trial Date Set for Priest in Theft Case

A Nov. 29 trial date was set Friday for a Catholic priest charged with stealing $60,000 in collection money from two Ventura County parishes.

This is the fourth time a trial date has been set for Father David Dean Piroli, 37, who is charged with two counts of grand theft by embezzlement for allegedly stealing money while he was assistant pastor at Sacred Heart Church in Saticoy and St. Peter Claver Church in Simi Valley.

Earlier postponements of the trial were granted by Superior Court Judge Allan L. Steele to give the defense time to collect and review thousands of pages of church financial documents.

The new trial date also was set at the defense’s request, Deputy Dist. Atty. Mary C. Peace said.

The charges against Piroli stem from the discovery of a large amount of money in his church-owned car and bedroom after a Hollywood drug arrest in May, 1992.

Piroli was assistant pastor at St. Peter Claver at the time, and Sacred Heart was his previous assignment. After the arrest, a church secretary and housekeeper at St. Peter Claver discovered thousands of dollars in small bills, plus collection envelopes, in Piroli’s bedroom and closet.

Piroli has pleaded not guilty to the theft charges. He remains free on $100,000 bond, posted by parishioners who support him.

Peace said Piroli is scheduled to appear in court again Oct. 22 to renew his request to get back about $37,000 that was confiscated from various local bank accounts after his arrest. Piroli said in a similar hearing last month that he needed the money to pay for his defense.

Steele denied Piroli’s request and said the money would remain confiscated pending the outcome of the trial.