Priests wife charged in of shooting at Rochester church

Priest’s wife charged in of shooting at Rochester church

ROCHESTER, Minn. – The wife of a priest was charged in a drive-by shooting at her own church.

Patricia Kasemeotes, 45, is accused of taking more than $30,000 in church funds last year and later firing shots at Rochester’s Greek Orthodox Church while people were inside.

Kasemeotes allegedly took check blanks from a church account checkbook and then forged a signature to obtain $31,500, which she deposited in a personal account.

According to a criminal complaint, Kasemeotes has been having an affair with a church volunteer, who signed funds for the church account. He called police in August 2002 when he noticed check blanks and funds missing.

The church volunteer said he confronted Kasemeotes on Aug. 20 at an apartment she had rented for their use. Hours later, police were called to the church on reports that shots had been fired, the complaint said.

The man with whom Kasemeotes allegedly had been having the affair was inside the church with his wife at the time. Outside, his minivan’s window was shattered.

Kasemeotes was charged Thursday with drive-by shooting at an occupied target and firing dangerous weapons within a municipality and school zone. She also faces theft and check forgery charges. All are felonies.

Information from: Post-Bulletin