*According to the Hearld-News, Rev. John Regan described himself as an “action gambler” who frequented riverboat casinos in Elgin and Joliet (Illinois) for fast-paced games of blackjack and craps — often at tables where the minimum bet was $25.
But the Catholic priest was betting heavily with money he stole from the Roselle church where he was pastor, sneaking out of the rectory to gamble in the middle of the night so he wouldn’t be seen by parishioners.
Regan was sentenced Tuesday to 60 days in jail for looting nearly $300,000 from St. Walter Parish by funneling church offerings and contributions from parishioners into a secret bank account he controlled.
“You went out in the darkness of night with other people’s money to feed a thrill,” DuPage County Judge John Kinsella said as he sentenced Regan. “It is an indescribable level of betrayal you entered into.”
Kinsella also ordered Regan to pay $295,000 in restitution, serve 150 days of work-release and perform 500 hours of community service work. In addition, Regan was placed on four years’ probation and ordered to abstain from gambling.
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