After a five month investigation, the New Castle Grand Jury has charged Father Cornelius Breslin for allegedly writing checks to himself from the bank accounts of his two parishes.
Breslin reportedly wrote the checks to himself in the name of Wilmington's St. Mary's and St. Patrick's parishes for over $358,000. The checks were written over the period of July 2009 to August 2010 and deposited into another account at another bank, according to police.
The investigation began after the Diocese of Wilmington reported suspicious financial activity to the Attorney General's Office.
“Stealing from church funds is an abuse of trust and a criminal offense which we take very seriously,” Attorney General Beau Biden said.
Father Breslin is charged with two counts of theft over $100,000 and two counts of falsifying business records.
Breslin turned himself in to Capitol Police in Wilmington Wednesday morning.
