LOUISA, Va. -- After a two-day trial, a retired Roman Catholic priest has been convicted on 10 state charges of embezzling from two rural Virginia parishes.
Jurors who convicted Rodney Rodis on Thursday recommended the maximum sentence -- 200 years. Formal sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 14.
According to prosecutor Tom Garrett, the 52-year-old Rodis embezzled more than $1 million from two churches in Louisa County.
Rodis is already serving a 63-month term for his federal conviction.
Many former parishioners from St. Jude and Immaculate Conception Catholic churches were unhappy with the federal sentence.
During closing arguments, a prosecutor said the case was "about a shepherd who betrayed his flock."
Copyright AP - Associated Press
