Church leader indicted in theft case

Posted by Sarena McRae June 10, 2008 18:36PM
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51-year-old Cleveland bishop of the Romanian Orthodox Church in Exile was indicted by a grand jury Tuesday on charges of theft and forgery.

Sava Cosas is accused of forging a check for $650 in another bishop's name.

Robert Anderson, 60, bishop of the Russian Orthodox Archdiocese, moved into Cosas' home in October 2005 to take over his church while Cosas was imprisoned on a federal gambling conviction.

When Cosas completed his sentence, Anderson moved out of Cosas' house to start his own ministry. However, Anderson's mail continued to come to the house. Cosas opened a Capital One account in Anderson's name and on Aug. 16 forged a courtesy check in for $650 in Anderson's name, said Ryan Miday, spokesperson for the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's Office.

If convicted of all charges, Cosas faces a maximum of four years in prison. He is scheduled to be arraigned on June 23.

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