A Crystal Lake man, who was an employee at a Woodstock church, has been charged with stealing between $10,000 and $100,000 from the church’s charity fund.
Christopher C. Trimpe 59, of Crystal Lake, was arrested on Thursday and charged with theft, a Class 2 felony.
The McHenry County Sheriff’s Office said they were contacted in January by the Diocese of Rockford.
The church said there was a misappropriation of funds from a financial account managed by the Resurrection Catholic Church, located at 2918 Country Club Road in unincorporated Woodstock.
Detectives learned there were financial irregularities discovered within the parish’s outreach program account, which is used to assist the less fortunate.
A criminal investigation was launched and investigators identified Brother Christopher Trimpe, the church’s business manager, as a suspect.
Trimpe had allegedly been using funds from the account for his own personal use since 2014. The theft amounted to more than $10,000 but less than $100,000.
The sheriff’s office obtained an arrest warrant on Tuesday for Trimpe and the U.S. Marshals Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force was notified.
They took the man into custody without incident and transported him to the McHenry County jail where he was ordered held on a $40,000 bond.
Trimpe posted 10% bail and was released Thursday afternoon. He is scheduled to appear in court again on Friday.