Priest returns to parishes after pleading guilty to theft

WORCESTER — A Roman Catholic priest who pleaded guilty to stealing nearly $240,000 from his Massachusetts church to fuel his gambling habit will be allowed to return to parish ministry on a limited basis.

The Rev. Stephen Gemme will be allowed to fill in for other priests in the Worcester Diocese who are on vacation or otherwise unable to work. Bishop Robert McManus said Gemme will not be involved in administrative duties.

Gemme was placed on five years’ probation in 2015 for stealing from St. Bernadette parish and school in Northborough. He has agreed to repay the money.

Gemme was allowed earlier this year to return to ministry outside parishes, celebrating Mass at an addiction recovery center.

Ex-karate instructor gets time for raping underage student

FALL RIVER — A former YMCA karate instructor is heading to prison for raping an underage student. Corey Ruel, 41, of North Attleborough, was sentenced to five years in prison Monday. He pleaded guilty to statutory rape in March. He was originally charged with aggravated rape.

Police say Ruel raped a 13-year-old girl over an eight-month period at his home and at the Attleboro YMCA where he was a part-time instructor.

A judge ordered Ruel to have no contact with the victim. Ruel also must register as a sex offender, attend sex offender’s counseling and refrain from having unsupervised contact with any children other than his own.

Police: Man dons Home Depot apron to steal air conditioners

PLAISTOW, N.H. — Police say a man donned an orange Home Depot apron and posed as an employee to steal air conditioners in New Hampshire. But a manager noticed the name on the garment didn’t match that of any worker at the store.

Police arrested 53-year-old Bernardo Calana, of Haverhill, Mass., on Saturday.

Calana loaded two air conditions into his pickup truck in Plaistow and went back inside. A manager noticed the apron with the name “Shannon” with flowers drawn on it and called police. Calana later told police he didn’t know anything about the air conditioners, but a Home Depot apron was found in his back pocket.

Calana was released on bail. The voice mailbox for a listed phone number for him was full.

From Associated Press