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Bond was set at $100,000 on Wednesday for the business manager of Infant Jesus of Prague church, who is accused of stealing a quarter-million dollars from the congregation.
Beverly Houston, 51, was charged Tuesday with stealing more than $250,000 from the Flossmoor church to feed her gambling habit. She could face up to 30 years in prison if convicted.
A public defender asked that Houston be released on her own recognizance, noting she does not have a criminal record and has relatives in the area.
Houston, of the 9300 block of South Paxton Avenue in Chicago, is charged with stealing more than $100,000 from a house of worship, a Class X felony, and forgery, according to Tandra Simonton, spokeswoman for the Cook County State's Attorney's office.
She faces a preliminary hearing April 15 at the Markham Courthouse, Simonton said.
Simonton said Houston was hired as the church's full-time business manager by the Rev. William Killeen on April 3, 2006 after working there part-time. Between April 3, 2006 and Oct. 19, 2007, prosecutors allege she stole $259,455.82 by writing 144 fraudulent checks using QuickBooks software.
Houston allegedly printed the checks off her home computer, Simonton said.
Law enforcement sources said Houston spent the money at riverboat casinos. "Word is she likes to gamble, and she's not real good at it," a law enforcement source said.
In December, allegations of financial mismanagement at Infant Jesus of Prague led to the temporary removal of the church's pastor and an audit by the Archdiocese of Chicago. |
