Local
Priest charged in parish theft

By Associated Press
Posted: 10/8/2010

The former pastor of St. John the Baptist Parish in Haverhill will now head to court to face charges he stole from the parish he once headed.

Authorities say Father Keith LeBlanc has been issued a summons to appear in Haverhill District Court on Nov. 3 to face charges of larceny over $250 by a single scheme, and fraud. He was not arrested.

Deputy Police Chief Donald Thompson tells The Eagle-Tribune that Attorney General Martha Coakley's office looked into the allegations, and then turned over the investigation to local police, who filed the charges.

Archdiocese of Boston spokesman Terrence Donilon said he could not comment on ongoing legal proceedings. The archdiocese did not disclose LeBlanc's whereabouts.

Father LeBlanc had resigned from St. John the Baptist in June amidst allegations of financial mismanagement.