Accused St. Matthew Embezzler Pleads Guilty

The former St. Matthew Parish secretary accused of stealing more than $200,000 from the church has pleaded guilty.

According to online court records, Darlene Vodvarka changed her plea to guilty on Friday. She had been charged with two felony counts of theft of more than $10,000.

A sentencing hearing is scheduled for March 20. She could face up to 20 years in prison and $50,000 in fines.

A message left for her attorney was not immediately returned Sunday.

According to a criminal complaint, administrators at discovered Vodvarka was manipulating records connected with a church fundraising program and tuition payments from families.

She was supposed to purchase $227,390 in merchant gift cards between 2004 and 2011, which could then be purchased by families, the complaint said.

Police discovered Vodvarka took $69,000 from the fundraiser program between 2004 and 2008, and $148,000 between 2009 and 2011, according to the complaint.