Wife of man charged in January also faces counts of church thefts

STAFF REPORT

NEW CASTLE, Pa. — The wife of a man accused of stealing money and gift cards from St. Vitus Church also is charged in the theft.

Kimberly Santillo, 46, of 404 W. Clayton St., was arraigned on charges of theft by unlawful taking or disposition and with criminal conspiracy Friday at District Magistrate Jerry Cartwright’s office in Ellwood City.

Her husband, August Santillo, 50, was arraigned in January.

Pennsylvania State Police are saying the couple stole $255,081 in cash and $106,650 in Giant Eagle gift cards while he was a program coordinator and she was a bookkeeper and secretary for the church on South Mercer Avenue.

The couple will appear in Lawrence County Central Court on March 31 for preliminary hearings.

August Santillo was jailed in January with bond set at $55,000 but is no longer at the jail. Mrs. Santillo is not at the jail either. Her bond amount was unavailable.

Mrs. Santillo also is charged with theft by deception, with state police contending she committed sales tax violations.

Police say she used the church’s tax-exempt status to make purchases for herself on five occasions.

Police said some of the items bought with gift cards included a $2,700 central air conditioner, a bedroom set and furniture valued at $5,670, and a $2,000 notebook computer.

Police said a search of the couple’s home turned up thousands of dollars’ worth of jewelry.

Police said the couple stole from the church from May 2001 until August 2008.