Published: Nov. 10, 2018
Man allegedly steals $50K from Holy Hill
Volunteered to count collections
By Nicholas Dettmann
ndettmann@conleynet.com 262-306-5043
WEST BEND — A 75-yearold man is in custody for
allegedly stealing an estimated $50,000 — potentially more — from Holy Hill
National Shrine of Mary, Help of Christians in the town of Erin.
According to online court records, Pierre
Valodine of Hubertus appeared in Washington County Court on Thursday in custody
in front of Judge Todd Martens with attorney Wilfred de Junco of the state
public defender's office. District Attorney Mark Bensen appeared for the state.
Valodine is charged with one count of
theft-movable property greater than $10,000 and one count of theft-movable
property $10,000-$100,000 — both felonies and each carry a maximum penalty of
10 years in prison and/or $25,000 fine.
The state requested a cash bond. A $10,000
signature bond was set, which included a stipulation for Valodine to have no
contact with Holy Hill National Shrine of Mary.
Valodine is scheduled to be back in court Nov.
21.
According to the criminal complaint, on Oct.
18, the Washington County Sheriff's Office responded to a report of theft at
Holy Hill, which was captured on video surveillance Oct. 17.
A representative from Holy Hill told
authorities the suspect, later identified as Valodine, stole more than $25,000
in cash in the last year. Suspicion grew amongst Holy Hill representatives when
they noticed discrepancies in the collections, the complaint said.
On Oct. 19, authorities watched a three-hour
video that allegedly showed Valodine taking money on 18 occasions.
On Oct. 24, a sting operation
was set up and the Sheriff's Office set up
cameras. On that day, which was a collection counting day, Valodine allegedly
emptied the collection box onto a table and stuffed the money into his jacket
pocket at least four times, the complaint said.
When approached by authorities, it was
allegedly noticed Valodine was palming money and he was told to put it on a
table, which he did, the complaint said. Then he was asked to empty his
pockets, which he did, and an estimated $1,250 was put on the table and another
$200 was in his wallet.
The complaint said Valodine was taking the
money to pay medical bills.
A Holy Hill representative told authorities
there was a discrepancy of between $120,000-$142,000 since September 2017,
which Valodine was a counter since that time.
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