Retired Pittsburgh reverend accused of stealing over $350,000 from church where he served – WPXI

PITTSBURGH — Reverend Wayne Peck is on bail after being arraigned this afternoon in Pittsburgh City Court.

He pastored Community House Presbyterian Church in Northside for 40 years.

According to detectives from the district attorney’s office, the day before he retired in 2017, he changed the signing officers on a bank card for the church to himself and another church board member.

Investigators say he received large checks from the church made out to him.

He is now charged with stealing more than $350,000 after a years-long investigation.

Peck lives in a large house on Highland Avenue and, according to several of his neighbors, he was left alone.

According to detectives, Peck used the money for day-to-day expenses, including his mortgage, utilities, car and travel expenses, restaurants and credit cards.

His thefts all came to light when representatives of the Pittsburgh church and rectory contacted the district attorney’s office after noticing financial “irregularities.”

Peck is charged with theft and receiving.

Channel 11’s Gabriella DeLuca spoke to Peck’s lawyer, Julia Gitelman. She told us, “It is shocking that the Pittsburgh Rectory chose to resolve an honest dispute in this way.

Gitelman did not elaborate on the dispute she referred to.

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