Watertown Priest Sentenced Following Pleas to Charges of Theft in a Business Setting and Theft by Fraud

WATERTOWN - Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen announced that on February 22, 2011, Jefferson County Circuit Court Judge Jacqueline R. Erwin, sentenced Thomas Marr on felony charges of theft in a business setting and theft by fraud.

With respect to both counts Judge Erwin placed Marr on probation for a period of 7 years. As conditions of probation, Judge Erwin ordered Marr to (a) serve 9 months with the first six months to be served in the county jail, (b) ordered restitution, (c) costs and surcharges, (d) prohibited Marr from engaging in any fiduciary responsibilities in employment and (e) required Marr to provide a DNA specimen.

Marr had previously entered guilty pleas to the charges on December 7, 2010.

According to the criminal complaint, Thomas Marr served as a priest for a Watertown area parish. Between 2007-2009, the complaint alleges that Marr took money from various parish accounts. In addition, Marr also allegedly solicited funds from members of the parish, family members, other clergy, and friends, representing that Marr intended to use the funds to assist parish members in financial distress. Marr promised that he (Marr) would repay these people quickly. During this period, Marr provided the funds he obtained from the parish and others to assist a second person in recovering money that the second person claimed was owed him from an overseas business transaction.

The charges are the result of an investigation by the Watertown Police Department and the Wisconsin Department of Justice, Division of Criminal Investigation. Assistant Attorney General Donald V. Latorraca represents the state.

A copy of the criminal complaint is available at: