Oct. 02--A west suburban youth pastor who stole charity voucher cards intended for the poor pleaded guilty Thursday to misdemeanor theft and was given a two-week jail sentence.
Rix Thorsell, 27, of Wheaton, had been charged with one count of theft from a place of worship after police were alerted to the thefts in March of the cards from Hope's Front Door, a charity operating out of the 1st Congregational Church in Downers Grove.
The cards, which could be redeemed for goods and services at grocery stores, gas stations and fast-food restaurants, were intended to help people in need. Police say they discovered that Thorsell had used some of the cards and was in possession of others.
As part of a negotiated plea, Thorsell also was ordered to make restitution and to spend 14 days in the DuPage County sheriff's work unit. He wrote a letter of apology, according to his attorney, Gary Johnson, who called Thorsell a good person who had nonetheless used "colossally poor judgment."
Judge John Kinsella accepted the negotiated plea.
