Niles man faces prison time after pleading guilty to church theft

WARREN — Michael Marrara pleaded guilty today to grand theft and could get prison time for stealing $97,000 from his church, Mount Carmel in Niles, between 2007 and 2014.

He is also apparently going to lose his job as a sewer maintenance employee for the city of Niles.

Marrara, 59, of Sayers Avenue in Niles, entered his plea in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court before Judge W. Wyatt McKay.

Marrara could get up to 18 months in prison.

Father John-Michael Lavelle said in early 2014 that he discovered within the first two weeks of his arrival at the parish in June 2012 that Marrara, then maintenance supervisor for the church, purchased about $22 worth of pool chemicals on the church’s credit card even though the church doesn’t have a pool.

Other thefts were discovered later.