Bond set at $1 million for Roselle priest accused of theft

Bond has been set at $1 million for a Roselle priest accused of stealing more than $400,000 from his former church, in part to feed a gambling addiction.

The Rev. John Regan was pastor of St. Walter Parish in Roselle from June 2006 until 2008. He was charged Thursday with theft and money laundering.

Regan, wearing the blaze orange jumpsuit of a DuPage County Jail inmate, appeared Tuesday on closed circuit camera in bond court after returning from an out-of-state counseling center where he received treatment for a gambling addiction.

The indictment accuses Regan of depositing the church funds into his personal accounts and then made withdrawals at riverboat casinos. Bank officials noticed irregularities and reported them.

Regan will be arraigned on the criminal charges on March 9.

<div class="infoBox"> <h1>More Coverage</h1> <div class="infoBoxContent"> <div class="infoArea"> <h2>Stories</h2> <ul class="links"> <li><a href="/story/?id=269850">Ex-Roselle pastor charged with theft <span class="date">[02/05/09]</span></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=224551">Accusations against pastor shock Roselle congregation<span class="date">[07/30/09]</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div>