ROENZ PLEADS GUILTY, SENTENCING DELAYED
Wednesday, June 29th, 2011 -- 1:00 PM
The former treasurer of Calvary Lutheran Church in Neillsville has pleaded guilty to 2 counts of theft by bailee and one count of income tax fraud, but he won?t be sentenced until September.John Roenz of Neillsville of Neillsville entered the pleas during a court appearance on Wednesday morning.
Authorities alleged he took at least $140,000 from the congregation he served as treasurer for around 20 years.
Church staff became suspicious of Roenz last year when they ran over budget in both office supplies and church supplies and they found checks that were supposedly written for items they never purchased.
As part of a plea agreement reached with District Attorney Darwin Zwieg, Roenz pleaded guilty to two of the six charges of theft by bailee and one of six charges of tax fraud. The other counts were dismissed, but can be considered during sentencing.
Zwieg will recommend a stayed prison sentence, and eight years of probation, including 12 months in the county jail with huber privileges, noting Roenz will need to be able to work to pay restitution.
Visiting Judge Frederic Fleishauer of Portage County ordered a pre-sentence investigation and said sentencing will likely happen sometime in September.
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