Accountant, wife indicted in $1.09 million theft from Abbey of Gethsemani
STAFF REPORT
Wednesday, May 7, 2014, 9 p.m. — A former employee of the Abbey of Gethsemani and his wife were indicted 
Wednesday on charges they were involved in the theft of more than $1 million from the Nelson County religious order’s mail-order business.
John Edward Hutchins, 39, an accountant formerly employed by the Abbey, and his wife, Carrie Lee Hutchins, 44, both of New Haven, were named in indictments issued by a Nelson County grand jury Wednesday, May 7, 2014, in 40 counts of theft over $10,000, 47 counts of theft over $500, and 87 counts of unlawful access to a computer, which was apparently the how the thefts from the religious order took place.
John E. Hutchins and Carrie Lee Hutchins were named in individual indictments as acting alone or in concert with one another. The indictments state the thefts took place between December 2008 and February 2014 and totaled more than $1.09 million.
In a statement released to the media Wednesday, an Abbey representative said John Hutchins had been an employee in the Abbey’s bookkeeping offices since 2007.
“In February of this year the Abbey of Gethsemani discovered improper financial transactions and reported these to the police. At that time Mr. Hutchins was suspended from his position pending investigation. His employment has since been terminated. The Abbey has cooperated fully with the police investigation.
This breach of trust has been harmful to the network of good will that exists among the monastery’s employees, neighbors, visitors, and benefactors. With the help of professionals, the Abbey of Gethsemani is developing a new system of financial controls to reduce the risk of a theft of this nature from happening again.
We continue to pray for Mr. Hutchins, his family, and all those affected by these allegations.”
Bail for John and Carrie Hutchins was set at $50,000 each, cash only plus conditions. The arraignment was set for 9 a.m. Tuesday, May 22.
Editor’s Note: An indictment is an accusation based on material collected by law enforcement and prosecutors.
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