Sentencing for Former Catholic Charities Chief in Grand Theft

The former director of the Catholic Charities of Orange County, who resigned a year ago when church officials accused him of embezzling $43,000 from the organization, was sentenced to jail Friday by a Superior Court judge.

Adair Allen Simmons, 38, who called himself “Brother Andrew,” was also ordered to pay restitution--in an amount to be determined later--and to perform 100 hours of community service.

Judge Kathleen E. O’Leary placed him on three years’ probation and sentenced him to six months in the Orange County Jail. But O’Leary said she would make him serve just 90 days if he performed the required community service by April 29, 1988.

Simmons, who has been free on bail, is scheduled to report back to court Jan. 15 to begin serving his sentence. Friday in court he pleaded guilty to grand theft.

Simmons was hired by Catholic Charities in November, 1984, and worked primarily as a counselor. He was appointed executive director in 1985, but no one had checked on his resume.

No Degree

A later investigation showed that he had no college degree; he had claimed on his resume to have three degrees. Also, he had been fired from four of his last five jobs and had been accused previously of forgery and theft, according to church officials.

Catholic Charities first began to question Simmons in August, 1986, after its controller gave him a memo questioning some of his expenses.

He had written many checks from January, 1986, to July, 1986, against the group’s emergency account.

Simmons eventually admitted to his superiors that he had misused funds.

According to a report detailing an investigation by the district attorney’s office, Simmons’ actions stemmed from a “professional and social” relationship he had with a 19-year-old man.

‘Emotional Problems’

According to the report, the case began when the younger man came to Catholic Charities in February, 1985, with what the report termed “emotional problems.” At that time, Simmons was working as an administrator with the organization and “was involved in the counseling of individuals with mental or emotional problems.”

Simmons later became executive director and, according to the report, wrote checks against the organization’s account, including two totaling $7,500 for a June, 1986, cruise he took with the young man and one for $17,930 for a new Toyota Celica convertible he bought for him.

Simmons attempted suicide Dec. 15, 1986, three days before he was forced to resign. The case was turned over to the district attorney’s office the next month.

Details of Simmons’ sentencing were worked out last month after he agreed to pay restitution to the church. The total amount will be determined by the county probation department.