Priest’s Defense Says Parish Money Intact

As the church embezzlement trial of Father David Dean Piroli resumed Monday, the defense gave evidence seeking to exonerate the priest in the alleged theft of $60,000 in collection money and to implicate Father James McKeon, his former boss.

The defense’s expert witness, Michael G. Kaplan, a USC accounting professor, testified that he found no evidence that money was missing from either of Piroli’s former parishes--Sacred Heart Church in Saticoy or St. Peter Claver Church in Simi Valley.

A prosecution accountant testified two weeks ago that collections at both churches dropped sharply when Piroli worked there.

But Kaplan told jurors in Ventura County Superior Court that average weekly collections rose steadily at Sacred Heart during Piroli’s tenure.

Kaplan also testified that cash deposits from St. Peter Claver dropped noticeably when church secretary Eileen Slavin resumed working there in 1991 and rose dramatically after McKeon left for another church in the second half of 1992.

Piroli was assistant pastor there from July, 1990, until June 3, 1992, the day he fled after police in Hollywood found him in a church car with $10,000 in cash, collection envelopes and traces of cocaine. Piroli has already testified that he did not steal church funds or use cocaine.

Defense attorney Douglas Levinson showed jurors McKeon’s private ledger reflecting collection cash the pastor had spent. When Levinson asked if the ledger fit the prosecution’s description of “an amber warning signal” indicating fraud, Kaplan answered quickly.

“Exhibit H is not an amber warning,” Kaplan testified. “It’s really a red blinking light, a red warning with sirens and whistles.”

Kaplan testified that McKeon’s ledger--which the pastor said reflected gifts to the poor, dinners with visiting priests and other church expenses--showed that McKeon had spent $121,000 in collection money in about 11 years.

Testimony is scheduled to continue at 10:15 a.m. today.