–A Catholic Priest who was facing felony theft charges in Kossuth County after being arrested in 2024 has pleaded guilty to a reduced charge and been sentenced to 2-years of probation.
Father Steven McLoud was charged with First-Degree Theft and First-Degree Fraudulent Practices in August of 2024, following an investigation into misappropriated funds from parishes in Algona and Bancroft. The criminal complaint filed in Kossuth County District Court alleged that McLoud knowingly falsified receipts of utility bills, reimbursement of mileage expenses, and other documents in the amount of nearly $70,000.
McLoud initially pleaded not guilty to the charges in November of 2024 before pleading guilty to a reduced charge of Third-Degree Fraudulent Practices, an aggravated misdemeanor at a hearing in early December. Along with the 2-years of probation, McLoud has been ordered to pay $5,000 restitution to the Divine Mercy Parish along with various court costs.
A report from Lumen Media, the official communication for the Diocese of Sioux City, McLoud remains a priest in the diocese and any further administrative or canonical actions involving him are considered a personnel issue, thus confidential in nature.
