Former manager of Catholic parish gets probation in scandal

TROY (AP) — The former manager of a Catholic church in Troy has been placed on probation for a year in a case that brought scandal to the prosperous parish.

Janice Verschuren kept her divorced husband on health insurance at St. Thomas More Church in Troy at a cost of $26,000. She has been ordered to repay that amount in addition to $5,500 to Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan.

The case began with felony charges of fraud and conspiracy involving her boss, the Rev. Ed Belczak, who embezzled more than $500,000. But Verschuren pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor involving insurance in a deal with prosecutors.

Belczak is serving a 27-month prison sentence. The priest used some stolen cash to buy a Florida condominium from Verschuren.