Ex-Gethsemani accountant indicted on $1M theft charge

The former accountant for the Abbey of Gethsemani was indicted Wednesday for allegedly stealing more than $1 million from the monastery, according to Nelson County Commonwealth's Attorney Terry Geoghegan.

A grand jury returned an indictment accusing John E. Hutchins and his wife Carrie of 87 counts of theft – 40 of them for allegedly taking over $10,000.

The money was allegedly siphoned from the abbey's mail order business from 2008 through February.

The indictment does not mention Hutchins' claims that he was fired for disclosing alleged sexual misconduct at the monastery, but it says the thefts began long before the misconduct he has cited.
The abbey's lawyer, Kevin Ford, said this week that were was no connection between the accusations against Hutchins and information he presented to the abbey's leaders.

Arraignment was set for May 26, according to Geoghegan, who said the couple's lawyer, Luke Morgan, has promised his clients will surrender that day in court.

Hutchins and his wife also were charged with 87 counts of unlawful access to a computer.
The indictment says that the 47 thefts were between $500 and $10,000 and the balance over that amount.

The total amount allegedly stolen was $1,060,000.

The monks became suspicious after examining one check for $20,000, and Hutchins was suspended with pay Feb. 17.

Full Article & Source:
Ex-Gethsemani accountant indicted on $1M theft charge