An audit so far has found that nearly $5 million is missing from a Roman Catholic church near Lansing.
The disclosure was made Friday during a court hearing for the Rev. Jonathan Wehrle (WUR'-lee), who is charged with embezzling $100,000 or more from St. Martha Church in Okemos.
Wehrle's attorney, Lawrence Nolan, says $5 million is a "new high-water mark."
The priest lives in an 11,000-square-foot home on 10 acres worth more than $1 million in Williamston. Nolan says money from Wehrle's family could have paid for it.
Retired Bishop Carl Mengeling says priests usually live on church grounds. A Lansing-area judge must decide whether there's enough evidence to send Wehrle to trial.
The hearing will resume Sept. 1 with testimony from Bishop Earl Boyea.
