Head Priest Arrested in Baseball Card Theft

A senior clergy member at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in downtown Pittsburgh has been charged after authorities say he stole baseball cards worth more than $1,000 from a Walmart store.

The Rev. Aidan Smith, 42, was taken into custody by police on Feb. 27 after allegedly leaving a Walmart in Economy Borough, located outside Pittsburgh, with 27 packs of baseball cards hidden under his clothing and inside a cardboard box, according to court documents.

Police were called to the store after Walmart security reported that Smith had returned to the location despite previous incidents. Investigators say surveillance footage shows him taking baseball cards and exiting the store without paying on four separate days prior to the arrest.

The total value of the merchandise was estimated by Walmart at $1,099.99.

Smith now faces charges of retail theft and receiving stolen property, according to the Associated Press.

Following the arrest, the bishop of the Episcopal Diocese said church officials plan to conduct their own review and will handle the matter in accordance with church rules governing clergy misconduct. The diocese also stated that Smith had already been placed on administrative leave in late January, though it did not provide details about the reason for that action.

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