By: Richard L. Smith
A woman accused of embezzling hundreds of thousands of dollars while working as a bookkeeper for two Catholic churches in Morris County has admitted to the charges, authorities announced.
According to a statement released by the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office, Melissa Rivera, 60, of Haskell, entered a guilty plea on May 19, 2025, to two counts of third-degree theft.
The plea was entered before Judge Robert Hanna, who is expected to sentence Rivera on July 11.
Prosecutors said Rivera stole a total of $292,728 from Our Lady of the Mountain Parish in Washington Township and Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish in Pompton Plains during her time as a bookkeeper.
The thefts spanned from May 2018 to May 2024.
An investigation by the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Financial Crimes Unit found that Rivera created 137 unauthorized checks amounting to $287,487 at Our Lady of the Mountain and three checks totaling $5,242 at Our Lady of Good Counsel.
She allegedly wrote the checks to herself from parish accounts.
Rivera was officially charged on March 27, 2025. As part of her plea agreement, Morris County officials said the State will recommend probation with a requirement that Rivera serve 364 days in the Morris County Correctional Center.
In addition, she must repay the full amount stolen to the affected parishes.
Prosecutor Robert Carroll commended the Financial Crimes Unit for its work on the case, which ultimately led to Rivera’s guilty plea.
