Former church employee pleads guilty to embezzling from two South Dakota Catholic churches

A former church employee working for two Catholic parishes in Tabor and Lesterville South Dakota has pleaded guilty to embezzling. 53-year-old Steven Bares made his plea Tuesday to one count felony wire fraud. According to prosecutors Bares took $324,000 from two Catholic Parishes. Court records show Bares was tried in federal court because the crimes crossed state borders into Minnesota. Bares had initially pleaded not guilty, but changed his plea during this week’s hearing. According to the Sioux Falls Catholic Diocese, the illegal activity appears to be limited to Bares only.