Question: Whatever happened to the case involving Daria S. Bruce, former secretary of Holy Cross Catholic Church in Kalaheo on Kauai, who was found guilty four years ago of stealing money from two church donations?
Answer: On Oct. 31, the Intermediate Court of Appeals upheld the 2008 conviction of Bruce, now 67, who was found guilty of diverting approximately $85,000 to the Holy Cross Filipino Catholic Club account from accounts of the Holy Cross Church in Kalaheo and Sacred Heart Mission in Eleele between 1998 and 2005. 
She had served as club treasurer and president of the Filipino Catholic Club.
Bruce also allegedly diverted donated funds to her personal accounts.
In 2005, she was fired after an auditor from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Honolulu found checks made out to the churches in the club account. Bruce had served as a church secretary for more than 20 years.
During a jury trial, defense attorney William Feldhacker said Bruce exchanged checks for cash between the club and the church. He had told the jury she often paid church and club bills out of her own pocket and reimbursed herself.
In December 2008, Bruce was found guilty by a jury of first-degree theft, a class B felony that carries a maximum of 10 years in prison. A circuit judge sentenced Bruce to 18 months in prison and five years of probation.
Attorney Michael Green is representing Bruce in an appeal case. She remains free on bail pending appeal. Her passport was withheld because she was considered a possible flight risk.
Green said Wednesday that he has yet to talk with Bruce to determine whether they are going to file a petition for a writ of certiorari with the Supreme Court to review the Intermediate Court of Appeal’s decision.
“If they don’t take it, then she’s a convicted person,” he said.
