An Orange County priest pled guilty to a charge of larceny and will pay $300,000 in restitution to his former parish, a Hudson Valley television station reported on Friday.

Father William Damroth was arrested in December 2023 on one count of grand larceny in the second degree. He agreed to plead guilty and repay St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta in Newburgh. Damroth also faces possible jail time and lengthy probation when he is sentenced in March 2025, the report said.

“While the case of Father Damroth is a serious and sad one, we are grateful to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office for their professionalism and diligence in bringing this matter to a conclusion,” Archdiocese of New York Director of Communications Joseph Zwilling said in a statement. “Our prayer now is for the people of Immaculate Conception parish and Saint Theresa of Calcutta parish and all those affected by Father Damroth’s activities.”

Father Damroth was ordained in 1993. Prior to being named pastor of Immaculate Conception-Most Sacred Heart, Port Jervis, and serving as pastor of St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta, Newburgh, from 2018 to 2022, his first assignment was as parochial vicar of Christ the King in Yonkers, from 1993-1996. He also served as parochial vicar at Sacred Heart in Newburgh, 1996-1998, and Annunciation in Crestwood from 1998-2004. He was administrator of Infant Saviour in Pine Bush from 2004-2006, then at Our Lady Queen of Peace in Staten Island from 2006 to 2010. He served as parochial vicar of Immaculate Conception in Stony Point, 2010-2011, and first as parochial vicar at St. Francis of Assisi in Mount Kisco, from 2011-2014, then as administrator, 2014-2016. He served as pastor of St. Francis of Assisi in Newburgh, 2016-2018, and administrator of Sacred Heart, Newburgh, 2017-2018.