LEAWOOD, KN — The former priest of Curé of Ars Catholic Church in Leawood has been arrested by Leawood police on suspicion of stealing $160,000.

Father Richard Storey resigned from his position at Curé of Ars in September 2025 after Prairie Village police began investigating allegations involving him and an adult victim. Neither the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas nor the Prairie Village Police Department has released details on these allegations.

Following Storey’s resignation, the archdiocese said it launched a review of the financial records at Curé of Ars because that is standard protocol when parish leadership changes. However, the staff found something was amiss with the records and contacted the Leawood Police Department.

Police arrested Storey on Saturday morning on a felony charge. The archdiocese said it is fully cooperating with law enforcement and will not release any further information on this investigation for now.

Storey has since been charged with theft of property or servicesworth more than $100,000 in Johnson County. Charging documents in the case say the theft happened between Jan. 1, 2021 and Dec. 31, 2025.

In a statement, Archbishop Shawn McKnight wrote, “This news is deeply painful for all of us in the Catholic Community, particularly given the nature of the allegations involving resources entrusted to the Church through the sacrifice and generosity of the faithful.”

McKnight goes on to say, “These allegations are serious, the legal processes must be allowed to proceed, and Father Storey is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law or internal canonical process.”

Curé of Ars said it will file an insurance claim to recover the lost money.

Storey celebrated his last Mass on Sept. 14, 2022, and was suspended six days later.

He resigned after Prairie Village police announced a criminal investigation involving him and one other adult.

Storey previously served at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Osage City, Kansas, and Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Overland Park.

Storey’s first court appearance was initially scheduled for Tuesday, May 26. It has been moved to June 2 at 1:30 p.m.

Read original article