Simi Priest Won’t Be Retried on Theft Charges : Courts: Prosecutors cite statements by jurors who deadlocked that the evidence failed to prove that the money was stolen from his parish.

Saying problems with their case are too severe to overcome, Ventura County prosecutors announced Friday that they will not seek to retry a Simi Valley priest accused of stealing in excess of $50,000 from his former parish.

Father David Dean Piroli smiled broadly after the announcement, which appears to mark the end of a two-year criminal prosecution against him. His attorney rejoiced in the decision too.

“He’s going to Disneyland,” defense lawyer Richard J. Beada quipped.

During his six-week trial in Ventura County Superior Court, Piroli maintained that a senior pastor framed him by planting much of the money found in Piroli’s rooms at St. Peter Claver Church in Simi Valley and in his church-owned car.

A jury deadlocked 9 to 3 in favor of acquittal on a charge of grand theft in connection with more than $50,000 that prosecutors accused Piroli of stealing from the Simi Valley church.

The jury also acquitted him of embezzlement related to a small amount of money he was accused of taking from Sacred Heart Church in Saticoy, where he previously served as assistant pastor.

Piroli was arrested May 29, 1992, when Los Angeles police found him and a Mexican national sitting in a church-owned car in Hollywood. In the car, police found $10,000 in small bills, trace amounts of cocaine and church collection envelopes.

Five days later parishioners said they found more money stashed in Piroli’s Simi Valley bedroom and office.

After Friday’s announcement by prosecutors, Piroli would not immediately say whether he plans to seek reinstatement as a priest in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles.

Also undetermined is who will get the money found in Piroli’s room, car and bank accounts--which totals about $75,000. Superior Court Judge Allan Steele will rule on that at a hearing May 6.

In their motion to dismiss the grand theft charge against Piroli, prosecutors cited concerns of the jurors who deadlocked.

In interviews with jurors after Piroli’s trial, prosecutors were told that the evidence failed to prove that the money in the priest’s possession was stolen from St. Peter Claver Church.

Jurors also questioned the church’s accounting procedures, according to the court papers.

Despite Friday’s announcement by prosecutors, Deputy Dist. Atty. Mary C. Peace suggested that the archdiocese should bar Piroli from ever again holding a position of trust in the church.

“His ability to continue functioning as a priest is subject to question,” Peace’s motion said. “The Catholic Church has the ability, apart from criminal prosecution, to deal with his future in the priesthood and to ensure that he is not again placed in a situation where this conduct can be repeated.”

If Piroli wants to remain a priest, archdiocese spokesman Father Gregory Coiro said, “I expect he will have to have a very painful and personal discussion with Cardinal (Roger) Mahoney.”

Surrounded by about a dozen supporters outside the courtroom Friday, Piroli appeared upbeat and laughed with attorney Beada. He let Beada do most of the talking.

Beada asked Judge Steele on Friday to allow Piroli to have access to $30,000 he has in nine frozen bank accounts. The judge allowed Piroli access to $10,000, but maintained control over the rest of the money so the banks could be repaid for records they copied for his trial.

Peace requested that the $43,419 found in Piroli’s room and office at St. Peter Claver be returned to the church. Beada, however, argued that included in that money is $8,000 to $10,000 worth of coins belonging to Piroli.

Beada also said $960 of the $10,000 found in the church car in Hollywood belonged to Piroli. The defense claimed that Piroli’s supervisor, Father James McKeon, planted the rest of the cash in the car--an allegation McKeon denied under oath.

After ruling at the May 6 hearing how to divide up the money, Steele is expected to formally dismiss the grand theft charge.

Reveling in the aftermath of the district attorney’s announcement, Piroli said he would wait until after the May 6 hearing to give interviews.

His attorney said he expects Piroli to have a difficult time being accepted back into the church if he decides to seek reinstatement as a priest.

“The church appears to have taken sides,” Beada said. “If the church wants to take David back, that will play a part.”

Piroli said he was relieved to know he won’t face another trial and is grateful for a handful of loyal supporters who accompanied him to court throughout his case.

“I’m very thankful for those who have been here and been supportive,” he said. “I’m even thankful for the press, some days.”

Father Dennis Mongrain, the new pastor at St. Peter Claver, said, “If the D.A. wants to drop the case, the church will stand by the decision.”

“We really just want to move forward,” he said. “Ever since Piroli left, the chemistry here has really changed. There’s been a resurrection. People are working together now. We have renewed spirit here--a spirit of community, of warmth and friendship.”

McKeon said: “I stick by the church’s earlier statement. It’s out of our hands. If they decided not to pursue the case, then we’ll go along with that, and move on about our business.”

Archdiocese spokesman Coiro said Friday’s decision unfairly let the accusations against McKeon stand.

“I can’t speak for Father McKeon, but if it were me I would feel humiliated,” Coiro said. “He doesn’t have the ability to answer those unfair accusations. A conviction would have been nice. It would have brought a kind of closure.”

Times correspondent Scott Hadly contributed to this article.