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Priest's bond may be revoked

Hearing to be held Monday to consider revoking bond of Rodney Rodis

BY BILL FREEHLING

Date published: 5/15/2007

BY BILL FREEHLING

Bond might be revoked in the case of a former Catholic priest in Louisa County accused of embezzling money from two rural churches.

Rodney Lee Rodis, 50, is currently free on a $25,000 bond. He's not allowed to leave Virginia, but prosecutors believe he flew to New Mexico last month.

A 9 a.m. hearing has been set in Louisa Circuit Court on Monday, which is Rodis' birthday. His bond could be revoked then, said Louisa Commonwealth's Attorney Don Short.

Rodis faces an October trial on charges that he embezzled hundreds of thousands of dollars from St. Jude and Immaculate Conception Catholic churches.

Short said he subpoenaed Northwest Airlines records showing Rodis flew to Detroit on April 11. Short said he believes Rodis went from Detroit to New Mexico.

A woman and three children whom Rodis had been living with in Spotsylvania County recently moved to New Mexico. Defense attorney Jack Maus has referred to the woman, 44-year-old Joyce Sillador, and the children as Rodis' family but has said Rodis isn't married.

Short said Rodis returned to Virginia on April 24. Maus said Rodis met with his probation officer April 25.

Rodis has pleaded not guilty to 13 felony embezzlement charges. He was pastor at St. Jude and Immaculate Conception for 13 years. State police have said Rodis may have stolen as much as $1 million between 1995 and 2006.

Rodis is a citizen of the Philippines. He has turned in his passport to authorities.

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Date published: 5/15/2007