By The Tablet Staff
PROSPECT HEIGHTS — Police in Riverside, Calf. have arrested a suspected fake priest that victimized churches across the country and within the diocese.
Authorities said they identified a car associated with the previous crimes that was found on Wed. April 10.
“The driver of the vehicle, identified as 45-year-old Malin Rostas, a resident of New York, was taken into custody for an outstanding felony warrant out of Pennsylvania for burglary,” the department said.
Local police “discovered Rostas was ‘Father Martin’ and had just attempted to burglarize a local church,” the sheriff’s office said.
On March 3, Rostas allegedly gained entry into the rectory of American Martyrs Church in Bayside.
According to Father Rayder, pastor of the parish, the man appeared moments before the 12:30 p.m. Sunday Mass on March 3.
Msgr. Edward Doran, a retired priest who helps on Sunday, was preparing to celebrate Mass when the man entered and identified himself as a visiting priest.
Msgr. Doran told Father Rayder details of his brief conversation with the man.
“He said, ‘I spoke to Father Peter — I’m staying in the rectory — but I need access to get my alb to concelebrate Mass,’” Father Rayder said.
Msgr. Doran opened the door for the man, and continued preparing for Mass, the pastor said.
Rostas went up the stairs and allegedly stole $900 from Father Rayder’s bedroom. He then escaped via the same vehicle that the Riverside authorities described last week.
The suspect was also found on video at the Sisters of St. Dominic of Amityville’s motherhouse on Long Island on March 1. He failed to get entry when he alleged to be a visiting priest.
Investigators urged anyone with information to call the Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).
People can also share their information on the CrimeStoppers website: crimestoppers.nypdonline.org, or on X @NYPDTips.