The home and possessions of former St. Martha church pastor and accused embezzler Jonathan Wehrle is worth a combined $1,702,384 according to an assessment by a court-appointed receiver. FOX 47 and fox47news.com obtained a copy of the assessment on Wednesday. It shows the 11,345 square-foot house on Noble Road in Wheatfield Township is worth $1,625,709. Wehrle's possessions are worth another $76,675.
The assessment was ordered as part of a lawsuit filed against Wehrle by the insurer for the Catholic Diocese of Lansing. Princeton Excess and Surplus Lines Insurance Corporation says it has already paid out around $2.5 million to cover the diocese's losses. Wehrle is awaiting trial on charges that he embezzled millions of dollars from St. Martha's. The Detroit News reported this week that auditors believe he stole $5.4 million from the parish starting shortly after he founded it in 1988.
The assessment itemizes everything from $5 for two brass table lamps up to $14,000 for a 2001 Kubota L3710 HSTC lawn tractor. Another tractor is worth $5,000. There are two organs, one a pump organ worth $3,000 in the attic, the other an Allen digital computer organ valued at $1,800. Wehrle has a $2,000 wood rocking chair, a $1,200 dining room table and a $1,000 bedroom set.
Wehrle has not commented on the house or the embezzlement charges. FOX 47 and fox47news.com will continue to keep you updated on the case. You can click the link in this story to read the full assessment.
