SATICOY/SIMI VALLEY : Priest Is Denied Churches’ Records

A Catholic priest charged with embezzling money from two parishes to which he was assigned will not be given access at this time to the churches’ financial records, a judge ruled Friday.

Superior Court Judge Allan L. Steele said he will allow the attorney for Father David Dean Piroli to renew his request when the case returns to court March 26.

In the meantime, attorney David P. Callahan, who represents Sacred Heart Church in Saticoy and St. Peter Claver Church in Simi Valley, will be allowed to examine previously sealed documents explaining why Piroli believes the parishes’ financial records will help his defense.

Piroli, 36, is accused of embezzling $60,000 in collection money from the two parishes and is awaiting trial on two counts of grand theft.

The charges stem from the discovery of a large amount of money in Piroli’s bedroom and church-owned car after a Hollywood drug arrest in May, 1992.

Prosecutors and Piroli’s attorney, Richard J. Beada, have already been given donation records for Sacred Heart dating back to 1984, and for St. Peter Claver since 1988.

Beada, however, has asked for all financial records for the churches, including expenditures and the donation totals for individual parishioners.

Beada has said that the churches’ financial records are so sloppy it is impossible to prove whether Piroli stole anything. His request to the court was accompanied by sealed affidavits, and Steele ruled Friday that Callahan has a right to examine most of them.