An Italian parish priest was sentenced to 3 years in prison for stealing thousands of dollars from his church coffers to buy “date rape drugs” and organize gay orgies. He was convicted of stealing the money, dealing drugs and having sex with others without a condom because he was HIV positive.
Priest sentenced to 3 years in prison for stealing donations from parishioners to organize drug-fueled gay orgies
Francesco Spagnesi, a priest at the Annunciation church in Castellina, Italy, was arrested by the country’s police last September after stealing thousands of dollars from the diocese’s coffers.
The money was spent by the pastor on organizing drug-fueled gay orgies, for which he was sentenced to three years and eight months in prison, local media report.
The 40-year-old man negotiated the sentence after pleading guilty to charges of drug trafficking, misappropriation and having unprotected sex with several men without telling them he was HIV-positive.
Spagnesi was also in a relationship with a man, who was sentenced to three years and two months in prison for being an accomplice in the purchase and sale of drugs.
The priest will serve part of his sentence in prison and in a therapeutic community, where he will receive treatment for his drug addiction, and will also be required to perform social services.
The court determined that Spagnesi must return the more than US$338,000 he stole from his parish.
