Organist Accused of Stealing More Than $12,000 From Church

GOSHEN, N.Y. – An organist at a Hudson Valley church is accused of stealing more than $12,000 in church donations.

Jimrae Lenser, 53, was arrested Monday and charged with grand larceny and criminal possession of stolen property, according to police in the Village of Goshen, about 55 miles north of New York City.

He was arraigned and sent to Orange County jail.

Police launched an investigation about three weeks ago after officials at St. John the Evangelist Church in Goshen first reported missing collections money. Lenser, who was employed as the church's organist, is suspected of stealing more than $12,000 in checks and cash since May. Some of the money stolen from this Saturday's Mass was recovered by police.

A woman who answered the phone at the St. John the Evangelist Church Tuesday said the church had no comment on Lenser's arrest.

Lenser, a Campbell Hall resident, is also employed as an organist at several other churches and police are looking into whether similar incidents have occurred. He's also an adjunct faculty member at Marist College in Poughkeepsie.

There was no answer at the telephone number listed for Lenser, who is scheduled to appear in court Wednesday.