Rodney Rodis gets 13 more years in prison
File / Times-Dispatch
Rodney Rodis enters Louisa County Circuit Court for a bond hearing on May 21, 2007.
LOUISA -- A judge today sentenced former Catholic priest Rodney L. Rodis to a prison term far shorter than a jury had recommended for stealing from two parishes he served as pastor.
Louisa County Circuit Judge Timothy K. Sanner ordered Rodis, 52, to serve 13 years in prison. The jury that convicted Rodis in October on 10 felony theft counts had recommended he serve a total of 200 years in prison, the maximum allowed.
Sanner said the 13-year term is to begin after Rodis completes a five-year prison term he is serving for mail fraud, money laundering and wire fraud in a related federal case.
Rodis, a native of the Philippines, testified at his trial in Louisa that he was trying to help needy family members and others in his homeland.
But Louisa Commonwealth's Attorney Thomas A. Garrett Jr. said Rodis also bought an upscale two-story house with the money.
According to testimony in the Louisa case, Rodis stole more than $1 million from Immaculate Conception and St. Jude Catholic churches as he solicited money for major capital campaigns.
-- Reed Williams
Reader Reactions
Ahhh, who needs ememies where there are family, friends, and Christians to decieve us, and then get away with it with a slap on the wrist? Amen.
I mean what signal does this send ,the Judge was clearly in left field on this one .Just like the illegals ,all he got was a slap on the wrist .His butt needs to serve more time .
A little more than three “Our Fathers,“ three “Hail Marys” and three “Glory Bes,“ but considering the pain he caused and the total betrayal of the Church and the parishioners who trusted him, I was hoping for something closer to the 200 years that the jury recommended.
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