Alleged Embezzler Sought : Official Says Diocese Leaders Feel Betrayed

A top official of the Catholic Diocese of Orange said Friday that diocesan leaders “feel very betrayed” by the former executive director of Catholic Charities of Orange County who is alleged to have embezzled $43,000 from the organization.

“He took us all in,” Msgr. Michael Driscoll, chancellor of the diocese, said of Allen Andrew Simmons, 37. “He was a very persuasive, very nice man. He was immediately liked by everybody. That’s his talent, I guess. So we all got taken in by that and feel very betrayed.”

Simmons, of Orange, who claimed to be a brother in a religious order that is not recognized by the Diocese of Orange, allegedly embezzled the money between January and July, 1986. Friday night, he was still being sought on an arrest warrant issued Thursday.

“We still haven’t located him,” said Assistant Dist. Atty. Maurice L. Evans. He declined to say where authorities are searching or to reveal additional information while the investigation is continuing.

Reimbursement for Stolen Funds

Simmons was bonded as executive director, so the diocese will be reimbursed for the stolen funds, Driscoll said.

Simmons claimed to be a member of the Franciscan Brothers of Mary, Queen of Peace, which is not a recognized order, Evans said.

The director of a Catholic charitable organization in Texas, where Simmons previously worked, said Friday that he understands that investigators now are questioning Simmons’ academic credentials. Evans would not comment on that.

The current director of Catholic Charities of Orange County, Sister Kristan Schlichte, said that as the organization’s chief executive Simmons had authority to sign checks. Simmons misappropriated the money “in bits and pieces,” issuing checks for “undocumented, unsupported and inappropriate expenditures” over a period of time, she said. Both Schlichte and the district attorney’s office declined to say to whom the checks were issued, but Schlichte said the money went to Simmons.

Decided to Press Charges

An audit uncovered the embezzlement, she said. She declined to say whether the organization has changed its check-issuing procedures since the money was discovered missing but defended the organization’s current practices, saying “the system brought it to light.” The diocese then decided to present the evidence to the district attorney and to press charges, she said.

Simmons initially was hired by Catholic Charities of Orange County about two years ago to be director of Catholic Social Services, Schlichte said. About a year ago, Simmons was named executive director of Catholic Charities, which had a 1986 budget of $2,342,417.

In commenting on the order with which Simmons was supposed to have been affiliated, diocesan Auxiliary Bishop John T. Steinbock said every religious order goes through a period when it is not recognized because “that’s the way religious orders begin; a group lives together to get recognition.” He said he believes, however, that Simmons’ order was never recognized and has been disbanded.

Before coming to Orange County, Simmons worked for Catholic Charities of Dallas, helping that agency begin a program for the long-term foster care of Indochinese adolescents, said Father Kilian Broderick, executive director of the Dallas charity.

Simmons purported to be a Franciscan brother and to have a master’s degree in social work, Broderick said. The Franciscans are a large and long-established order, although there are a “variety” of smaller orders also using that name, he said. The organization needed someone with appropriate credentials to work with foster homes, “and at the time it seemed to be quite fortuitous. He just happened in, saying he had a master’s, and here he was, a religious brother,” Broderick said.

He now understands that investigators are questioning Simmons’ academic background, he said. Broderick could not recall where Simmons claimed to have received his degree.

His organization never did an in-depth review of Simmons’ background, and people there seemed satisfied with his work, Broderick said.

Disappointed at Stay

But Simmons stayed with the Catholic Charities of Dallas only about four months, and his departure disturbed officials there, who expected him to stay with the project for at least a year, Broderick said.

“I can’t recall the reason for his rather abrupt resignation,” Broderick said.

Simmons was hired at Catholic Charities of Orange County by Bill Erickson, the outgoing executive director, Msgr. Driscoll said. He did not know how thoroughly Erickson reviewed Simmons’ credentials. Erickson could not be reached for comment Friday.

Schlichte and the district attorney’s office refused to divulge further information about Simmons’ background, citing the ongoing investigation.

Diocesan officials also refused to discuss how they confronted Simmons with the embezzlement charges, or how he responded.

According to the California Department of Motor Vehicles, Simmons has been living at 200 W. La Veta Ave., Orange, which is a residence of the diocese. Bishop Steinbock said Simmons has moved out of the residence but could not recall when.

Diocese Advances $50,000

The diocese has advanced Catholic Charities of Orange County $50,000 to make up for the embezzled funds so that the organization can continue its programs, Driscoll said. Those programs include counseling, day care for developmentally disabled youths, resettlement of refugees and helping illegal aliens apply for amnesty under the new immigration law.

Catholic Charities, a United Way agency, received about $461,000 from the organization last year. The Catholic agency also receives money through fees, contracts with the state and donations, officials said.

Driscoll said he hoped donations would not suffer.

“We think we’ve done the right thing,” Driscoll said. By pressing charges against Simmons, “we’re trying to protect the community. We’re not hiding anything. We think people will understand that these things happen and that we didn’t do anything wrong and that we’ll do our best to not have it happen again.”

Merritt Johnson, president of the United Way of Orange County, said there would be no repercussions against Catholic Charities.

“We are pleased they’ve taken appropriate action,” Johnson said.

The situation points out that organizations need to thoroughly check out the credentials of the people they hire, he said.

“Impostors are so rare, but this points out that the personnel practices and hiring practices and checking of references is so important,” Johnson said. Although he is not fully aware of how Simmons was hired, “maybe a collar and hearing a title can cloud one’s judgment,” he said.

“But what they (Catholic Charities) have done is go to the authorities,” Johnson said. “They’ve been open with the media, and they’re exposing it. And that makes people more aware.”