Wyoming Police Friday authorized a warrant for Jim Kulfan, the former business manager at St. John Vianney School and Parish.
The charge is embezzlement of more than $100,000, court records show. Bond is set at $20,000 cash. Kulfan has not yet been formally charged. He faces a 20-year felony.
In a probable cause affidavit, police say he stole more than $134,000 by writing checks to himself and stealing cash. An accountant hired by the church told police Kulfan admitted to already stealing $20,000.
A spokesperson for the Grand Rapids Diocese deferred all questions and comments to Wyoming police. Spokesperson Capt. Kim Koster said she would make a statement after he was arraigned, but had no arraignment date was set.
Kulfan had no comment when approached at his Grandville home.
This statement was found in a St. Vianney Parish bulletin from January 1, 2012, from Rev. Mike Alber:
Last Wednesday, December 21st, I relieved our business manager, Jim Kulfan, from his duties here at St. John Vianney. This is not something that I have taken lightly considering the time of year and the employment opportunities that do not exist in our community at this time. I can tell you that he has been let go but I can’t get into the reasons why other than it being a personnel matter. To be fair with all of us involved in this matter please know that anything you may hear regarding this matter could be speculation at best. The best course of action would be to not have further discussion into the why but to pray for Jim and his situation and to pray for me as we begin the search for a new employee.
May God bless you in this coming year,
Fr. Mike
