Retired Pittsburgh reverend accused of stealing over $350,000 from church he served at
The Rev. Wayne Peck is out on bond after he was arraigned this afternoon in Pittsburgh Municipal Court.
He was a pastor at Community House Presbyterian Church in the Northside for 40 years.
According to detectives with the district attorney’s office, the day before he retired in 2017, he changed the authorized signers on a bank card for the church to himself and one other member of the church’s board.
Investigators say he was allegedly receiving large checks from the church made payable to himself.
Now he is charged with stealing more than $350,000 after a multiyear investigation.
Peck lives in a large home on Highland Avenue, and, according to several of his neighbors, he kept to himself.
According to detectives, Peck used the money on everyday expenses, including his mortgage, utilities, car and travel expenses, restaurants and credit cards.
His thefts all came to light when representatives from the church and the Pittsburgh Presbytery contacted the DA’s office after they noticed financial “irregularities.”
Peck is charged with theft and receiving stolen property.
Channel 11′s Gabriella DeLuca spoke to Peck’s attorney, Julia Gitelman. She told us, “It is shocking that the Pittsburgh Presbytery has chosen to resolve an honest dispute in this manner.”
Gitelman did not elaborate on the dispute she referenced.
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