MANTECA, CA) - A pastor accused of selling the town's oldest church pleaded guilty to embezzlement on Monday and agreed to 18 months in prison, court officials said. Randall Radic, 53, entered his plea as part of a deal in which prosecutors agreed to drop nine other charges.
Radic had preached at First Congregational Church in Ripon for nearly a decade before he sold the church last October for $525,000, allegedly using the money to buy a BMW. He also faked documents that gave him possession of his house, which was owned by the church, then used the property to take out loans, authorities said.
Before the plea deal, Radic had faced up to nine years in prison for 10 counts, including two counts of theft by embezzlement, two counts of obtaining property by false pretenses, four counts of forgery of signature and two counts of presenting a fraudulent document.
Radic's attorney Michael Babitzke declined to comment on the case Monday.
Radic remains in San Joaquin County Jail on $750,000 bail. He was scheduled to appear for a formal sentencing and restitution hearing on March 16.
People are people, no matter the profession they chose.
Interestingly, Massachusetts is trying to pass legislation forcing all churches (and synagogues, etc) to disclose their financial statements just like any other 501(c)3 charity. I pray that it passes; why should businesses like the one mentioned in the article and cc be immune from financial scrutiny?
