Priest Denied Plea in Embezzlement Case

A Superior Court judge Friday refused a second request by a Catholic priest for the release of $37,000 that was confiscated from his bank accounts after he was charged with embezzling funds from two Ventura County parishes.

Father David Dean Piroli was denied his request to get money returned to him because Judge Allan L. Steele concluded that Piroli was legally barred from considering the same motion twice, Deputy Dist. Atty. Mary C. Peace said.

Piroli, 37, is charged with two counts of grand theft by embezzlement for allegedly stealing $60,000 in collection money while he was assistant pastor at Sacred Heart Church in Saticoy and St. Peter Claver Church in Simi Valley.

Piroli has pleaded not guilty.

The charges stem from the discovery of a large amount of money in Piroli’s 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 found thousands of dollars in small bills, plus collection envelopes, in Piroli’s bedroom and closet.

Peace said during an earlier court hearing that Piroli had $47,000 in various local bank accounts after his arrest, despite earning only $400 a month for his priest’s duties. She said he managed to withdraw about $10,000 from the accounts before authorities could obtain a search warrant to seize his assets four months after his arrest.

Piroli is free on $100,000 bail. His trial is scheduled for Nov. 29.