GLENVIEW. Glenview priest to be charged with stealing from trust fund LATEST LOCAL HEADLINES

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1 1 of 10 6/22/2014 5:12 PM Sign In or Sign Up GLENVIEW Home News Business Sports A&E Life & Style Opinion Real Estate Cars Jobs Glenview priest to be charged with stealing from trust fund Tweet 24 Recommend 730 Pinterest 0 18 LATEST LOCAL HEADLINES Full coverage of Glenview by TribLocal Glenbrook high schools to get fewer

2 2 of 10 6/22/2014 5:12 PM sugary drinks District 34 approves raises for administrators Glenview gets grant to deal with abandoned buildings By Alexandra Chachkevitch and Lisa Black Tribune reporter 7:09 a.m. CDT, June 20, 2014 A Greek Orthodox priest in Glenview will be charged with felony theft amid allegations that he took more than $110,000 from a church trust fund to pay personal expenses including shopping trips, upscale dining and Christmas decorations for his home, according to Wisconsin authorities and a criminal complaint. The Rev. James Dokos is accused of improperly writing tens of thousands of dollars in checks to himself and to pay a personal credit card bill from a trust fund that he controlled, but which was set up primarily to benefit a Milwaukee church where Dokos was the longtime pastor, according to the complaint. He transferred to Saints Peter and Paul Church in Glenview in The Tribune reported in October that documents the newspaper obtained also showed that Dokos, while RELATED Church concerned over pastor's financial dealings at old post Church tries to reinstate council president Council chief ousted after seeking suspension CHICAGO BREAKING NEWS Quinn signs advisory minimum-wage hike question for Nov. 4 ballot Updated 8 minutes ago LOCAL PHOTO GALLERIES Dream homes: Northbrook & Glenview A history of Glenview Photos: Naval Air Station Glenview Your photos: Glenview

3 3 of 10 6/22/2014 5:12 PM serving as pastor of Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Milwaukee, wrote checks from the trust to several high-ranking Greek Orthodox church leaders, including at least $6,750 sent to Bishop Demetrios of Mokissos, the No.-2 ranking official at the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago, which oversee dozens of churches in several Midwestern states. Upon learning of the criminal investigation into Dokos handling of the fund, members of the lay leadership of the Glenview church sought to have Dokos temporarily removed from their ministry until the probe s completion. They were rebuked by Metropolis officials, who instead removed the parish council president from his position. Demetrios, who could not be reached for comment Thursday, also sent a letter to the Milwaukee church in August stating that the Metropolis own investigation determined that the funds from the trust were spent properly. Saints Peter and Paul, which was established in the 1960s, has about 1,300 members. Located in an affluent northern suburb, the church has suffered from dwindling financial support since news of the Dokos investigation broke, lay leaders have said. The priest will be charged with a Class G felony theft for allegedly misappropriating an amount of money exceeding $10,000, said David Feiss, assistant district attorney for Milwaukee County. The criminal complaint which authorities said will be formally filed after they schedule a hearing date with Dokos attorney did not address the checks written to church leaders. Most of the priest s spending in question occurred between 2008 and 2012, after Dokos signed over the bulk of the trust fund $1.1 million to Annunciation Church, according to the complaint. Glenview police reports: Home break-in, egged cars, forged checks Glenview police reports: Portable toilet catches fire Suburban Chicago arrest photos MAPS Glenview, IL, United States Glenview, IL, United States FROM THE COMMUNITY UPCOMING LOCAL EVENTS WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25 Committee of Two Oil Lamp Theater Glenview Bearfoot Concert Series: Piano Man Jackman Park Glenview THURSDAY, JUNE 26 Come Blow Your Horn Oil Lamp Theater Glenview Share your stories, photos and events with TribLocal. Thursday Night Out: Rio Bamba Starlight Theatre at Wallace Bowl Wilmette Glenview Auto Sales Glenview Banking See all local events Find more events on Metromix Glenview Beauty Care

4 4 of 10 6/22/2014 5:12 PM Milwaukee church leaders, however, told investigators that they were not aware that there was money left over, according to the complaint. The trust called for Dokos to receive $5,000, an automobile and property, and for $20,000 to be distributed among several charities. After that, the rest, remainder and residue of the Trust Assets were to go to the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church to be used exclusively for the construction and maintenance of a Cultural Center, the criminal complaint states. Instead, a great deal of this money was spent on clearly personal expenditures, the complaint states, detailing checks that Dokos wrote to his daughter and mother and toward his cable bill and medical expenses. Glenview Dentists Glenview Florists Glenview Insurance Glenview Lawyers Glenview Movers Glenview Physicians Glenview Restaurants Glenview Real Estate Discover and Review More Local Businesses» Dokos, 62, who lives in Chicago s Gold Coast neighborhood, could not be reached Thursday. His lawyer described Dokos as the innocent target of Milwaukee church members upset after his transfer to Glenview. It is my view that Father Dokos is the victim of a vigilante action by a number of people at the Annunciation church who are unhappy with the archdiocese and Bishop Demetrios because Father Jim was replaced at the Annunciation Church by a different priest, said Franklyn Gimbel, based in Milwaukee. They have been pressuring the district attorney s office overwhelmingly to bring this case. There is absolutely going to be a battle to the conclusion of this case. Gimbel said Dokos has not resigned and that his fate will rest with church leaders. A Metropolis spokesman issued a statement saying it will continue to work with the district attorney s office and that we will continue to monitor developments in this case and administer our parishes in accordance with our Archdiocesan Charter and Regulations. The Milwaukee County district attorney s office began investigating Dokos about a year ago after being contacted by officials at the Milwaukee church where Dokos served as a pastor for about 20 years before coming to Glenview. Annunciation officials told investigators that they first became concerned in early 2013, when they said they found possible discrepancies with the trust fund, which was left by longtime Annunciation parishioners Ervin and Margaret Franczak. The criminal complaint quotes an from Dokos, who wrote in response to the

5 5 of 10 6/22/2014 5:12 PM questions raised by church leaders at the time: I STOLE NO MONEY. The parish leaders turned to authorities after Bishop Demetrios told members there was no wrongdoing. The criminal complaint is total vindication, said Emmanuel Mamalakis, an attorney for the Milwaukee church who is also a longtime member. VIDEO He said church officials could have handled the matter internally if Metropolis leaders had been more responsive to the concerns of Milwaukee church members over the fund. We don t wish for any other church to go through this, Mamalakis said. The controversy surrounding the investigation led to tensions between the Metropolis of Chicago and the Glenview church parishioners. In fall 2013, Metropolitan Iakovos, the leader of the Metropolis of Chicago, denied the church s request to place Dokos on temporary leave while the investigation continued. He also removed the church s parish council president, James Gottreich, who had asked for Dokos to be placed on leave, from his post. I ve said the truth will come out, and it obviously has, said Gottreich, vice president of the parish council. It s sad for our church. The 20-member parish council will likely gather for an emergency meeting soon, he said, adding he believes Dokos should be removed or at least be put on a leave of absence. It s been a very troubling time for our parish for many months, said James Santos, president of the Glenview parish council. The criminal complaint doesn t come as a surprise. achachkevitch@tribune.com lblack@tribune.com 1:46 2:11 0:57 Kennedy re-opens all lanes, construction project concludes All lanes on the Kennedy Expressway re-opened as of... Trump sign controversy: How would you rename it? Trump sign controversy: How would you rename it? Pope visits mafia stronghold, says 'no more child victims' Cassano allo Ionio (ITALY) (AFP) - Pope Francis visits... Copyright 2014 Chicago Tribune Company, LLC Tweet 24 Recommend 730 Pinterest 0 18

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8 8 of 10 6/22/2014 5:12 PM testamentary trust of which the Milwaukee parish was a beneficiary. The terms of that trust are governed by state law, NOT church or canon law. So case most definitely not closed until the civil authorities say it is. Dr.Handsome Rank 28 Yeah, but do you know how much nice Christmas decorations go for now days? tst-taos-1949 Rank 7162 The Chicago Metropolis of the Greek Orthodox Church is fully capable of determining whether Church funds entrusted to its parish priests are properly used. It has spoken. Case closed. 93Grandam Rank 39 He looks like Archie Bunker!! CheepFly Rank 384 I thought that Priest's, are Married to the Church! In the article stated, A great deal of this money was spent on clearly personal expenditures, the complaint states, detailing checks that Dokos wrote to his daughter and mother and toward his cable bill and medical expenses. This guy is a LIAR and should be prosecuted to the furthest extent of the Law and forced have all his accounts frozen ASAP. I do not even care if his was Married to a Women or not with a Child, he is a Priest! bhawksman Rank 9 He even looks guilty.

9 9 of 10 6/22/2014 5:12 PM Nessuno1 Rank 49 Oh yea! Now there will be a hundred comments regarding his resemblance to Marlon Brando! Nessuno1 Rank 49 It's Don Corleone! He's got an offer you can't refuse! psommers Rank 151 The hierarchy in the Church creates problems for themselves by denying everything until it becomes a scandal. It is also the "Old Boy's Club" with everyone protecting each other. Metropolitan Iakavos was not chosen for his spirituality, he was the next in line to the throne, all politics. Sad commentary on the leaders in the Church who can take action and yet refuse to do so. Dan Waters Rank 322 He looks shady. View 4 more replies Agnes G. Blumgarten Rank Just answering questions which have been posed by other commenters to this article. If this upsets your idea of communication it is just too bad. I prefer give and take from all commenters without you or anyone placing ill-conceived restrictions. tgiardin2 Rank G. Blumgarten And everyone suffers as a result

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