Wheaton man charged with stealing from Downers Grove charity

A youth pastor at a Downers Grove church is accused of stealing about $400 worth of vouchers meant to help the needy from a local charity, officials said.

Rix Thorsell, 27, of the 100 block of Cross St., Wheaton, has been charged with one count of theft from a place of worship, according to a news release from the DuPage County state's attorney's office.

Prosecutors say that during the weekend of March 6-8, about $4,000 worth of voucher cards were stolen from an office at First Congregational Church of Downers Grove. The cards belonged to Hope's Open Door, a charity housed at the church.

After an investigation by Downers Grove police, Thorsell, who works as a youth pastor at First Congregational, was found with some of the missing voucher cards, the news release said.

Thorsell posted 10 percent of his $25,000 bail and was released while his trial is pending.

He is next due in court April 6 in front of Judge John Kinsella.