Priest Stole Church Money for Male Escorts and More, Say Cops

WATERBURY, Conn. (CBS/WFSB) A 64-year-old Roman Catholic priest has been arrested after an investigation into the theft of church money. He is accused of stealing funds in order to support some very un-priestly habits.

Kevin Gray turned himself in to Waterbury Police Tuesday morning after learning of a warrant for his arrest on larceny charges, reports CBS affiliate WFSB.

The former pastor of a Waterbury church is accused of stealing $1.3 million dollars over the course of seven years, and using the money to pay for personal expenses, including hotel rooms, restaurants, clothing, and male escorts.

Cops say that Gray racked up $200,000 on various Manhattan restaurants, $100,000 on hotels, $80,000 on clothing and designer suits and $45,000 on rent and tuition for two men, says WFSB.

When questioned as to why, police say Gray told them that "he felt the church owed it to him" because he was unhappy with his church assignments.

As a result of this controversy, officials say Gray was suspended last month by the Archdiocese of Hartford and can no longer function as a priest in Connecticut or anywhere in the county.

Prior to the scandal and investigation, Gray served as the priest at Sacred Heart from Jan. 1, 2003 through April 15, 2010, reports WFSB.

At that time, he was placed on an indefinite leave of absence for medical reasons; however, the archdiocese is now looking into Gray's medical claims in order to make sure they are true.

When asked for medical records documenting his illness, Gray failed to produce any kind of evidence, saying his illness deterred him from keeping up-to-date with his records.

The investigation was launched last month after the archdiocese went to police.