March 29, 2024
McHenry County | Northwest Herald


McHenry County

Catholic brother, church office manager accused of stealing more than $34,000

A Crystal Lake man accused of stealing thousands of dollars from his church's outreach fund was released on bond Thursday from the McHenry County Jail.

Christopher C. Trimpe, 59, is due back in court Dec. 11 on a felony theft charge alleging he misappropriated funds from Resurrection Catholic Church in Woodstock.

Trimpe is a member of a religious order known as the Congregation of the Resurrection and acted as the business manager of the Woodstock parish until November 2019, Diocese of Rockford Communication Director Penny Wiegert said.

Trimpe was known as a “brother” within the church, meaning he previously took vows of poverty, chastity and obedience to the religious order, Wiegert said. Brothers differ from priests in part because brothers are not ordained, while priests are.

“Brother Trimpe was removed from his parish duties after discrepancies in some parish accounts were discovered, and the pastor in consultation with the parish finance council asked the Diocese of Rockford to investigate and audit parish accounts,” Wiegert said in an email Friday.

The audit discovered a misappropriation of funds totaling $34,977.

“Brother Trimpe’s religious order will make full restitution of the missing funds,” Wiegert said.

The Rev. Stephan Glab informed his parish in November 2019 about the investigation and Trimpe’s removal. Glab expects to update the parish about Trimpe’s arrest again this weekend, Wiegert said.

Trimpe is charged in McHenry County court with theft of more than $10,000. If convicted, Trimpe could face between three and seven years in prison.

Katie Smith

Katie Smith

Katie reported on the crime and courts beat for the Northwest Herald from 2017 through 2021. She began her career with Shaw Media in 2015 at the Daily Chronicle in DeKalb, where she reported on the courts, city council, the local school board, and business.