An usher at an Ocala church was arrested Sunday during mass after he was caught red-handed stealing from the offering baskets.
Officials at Blessed Trinity Catholic Church contacted the Marion County Sheriff's Office over suspicions that one of their volunteer ushers was stealing from the church's offering baskets.
Detectives placed video surveillance in the church which caught volunteer usher Mario Condis, 60, stealing money from the offering baskets and shoving it in his pockets while the congregation had their eyes closed and heads bowed during prayer.
Video surveillance was set up in several services and caught Condis committing these same actions during each mass.
On Sunday, Nov. 8, MCSO detectives staged themselves around the church to watch Condis during the Spanish mass.
During the prayer, detectives watched as Condis stole money from the offering baskets again and put the money in his pockets. When Condis approached the church altar, detectives escorted him out of the church and took him into custody.
Detectives recovered a total of $349.05 from Condis's pockets. When asked about where he got the money, Condis denied his involvement in the theft and claimed the money was his. When detectives questioned him further, Condis said that he was in the process of putting the money back at the altar before detectives took him into custody.
Condis was arrested and charged with one count of grand theft and three counts of petit theft. He posted his $3,500 bond Sunday evening and was released from the Marion County Jail.
