New York Post-
A Staten Island priest who admitted swiping $84,000 from his church to fund plastic surgeries and Botox treatments was sentenced yesterday to five years' probation -- and the threat of jail if he doesn't pay it back.
William Blasingame, 66, a former pastor at St. Paul's Memorial Episcopal Church, said nothing before Judge Alan Meyer handed down the negotiated sentence for second-degree grand larceny.
His lawyer, James Hasson, said Blasingame never meant to steal the church's money, but irresponsibly mixed his own funds with those of the church in a church account -- then spent it.
"He took a plea when he realized that what he did could very well be interpreted as taking this money illegally from the church," said Hasson.
Blasingame was nabbed in April, when church officials noticed money missing.
If Blasingame fails to pay back the money -- plus a 5 percent fee to the agency handling the restitution -- he could face up to 15 years in prison.
Read more:
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/staten_island/friar_tuck_sentenced_3M6aTwQVAp1Bmgway190hJ#ixzz0XK05wINT
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