Accused Roselle priest to stand trial in June

A former Catholic priest accused of stealing more than $400,000 from his Roselle parish to feed a gambling addiction will stand trial in June, a judge said Wednesday.

John Regan, 47, has pleaded not guilty to felony charges of theft, money laundering and continuing a financial crimes enterprise in connection with his former position as pastor at St. Walter’s Catholic Church.

DuPage County Judge John Kinsella set the case for a June 13 bench trial. Regan faces up to 30 years in prison if found guilty by Kinsella.

Prosecutors said Regan stole more than $400,000 in church offerings and parishioner donations over two years. He is accused of spending the pilfered funds on his own credit card bills and gambling at riverboat casinos.

The Diocese of Joliet removed Regan as head of St. Walter’s in July 2008, after an internal audit uncovered accounting irregularities in the parish books, which ultimately led to his indictment. The former priest later received treatment for a gambling addiction.

Defense attorney John “Jack” Donahue has said Regan had no prior criminal history and was taking steps to address his problems.

Regan, who returns to court on April 14 for a status check, remains free on bond. His trial is expected to last three or four days.