A local priest, accused of embezzling money from his church, is now wanted again by police, according to court documents. Father Donald Armstrong didn't show up for court Wednesday and an arrest warrant has been issued. It was his first court appearance since he was indicted by a grand jury last week.
Armstrong faces allegations of stealing money from Grace and Saint Stephen's Episcopal Church in downtown Colorado Springs. According to the grand jury indictment obtained by 11 News, from July 1999 until March of 2006, court documents say that Father Armstrong used parish money ($392,000) for personal expenses, like his children's college education. He is now facing 20 counts of theft.
11 News stopped by St. George’s Anglican Church, where Armstrong works now, to ask him why he didn’t show up for court. A church worker said he wasn’t there, even though his car was still in the parking lot.
A minute later, his secretary told us Father Armstrong was at the church, but was on the phone. When asked if he forgot about his court date she replied, “No” and went onto say that this was all a misunderstanding.
When leaving the church, Armstrong’s car was gone.
He was indicted last week and had turned himself in to police. Wednesday was supposed to be his first court appearance on the theft charges.
Armstrong and hundreds of his followers left the Episcopal Diocese and became Anglican back in 2007. His congregation continued to practice at Grace and Saint Stephens until they were recently forced out by a court order, which was the result of a lawsuit from the Episcopal Diocese.
http://www.kktv.com/home/headlines/46425782.html
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