HUDSON HEIGHTS — A regular visitor to a local Greek Orthodox church was arrested for stealing a $5,000 religious painting from the house of worship, police and clergy said.
Washington Dominguez, 64, was charged with swiping the painting from the Saint Spyridon Greek Orthodox Church at 124 Wadsworth Ave. on May 8, after police released surveillance footage allegedly showing the crime, the NYPD said.
The church's parish priest, Father Evagoras Constantinides, described the piece as a rare, hand-painted portrait of Saint Spyridon with a 24-karat gold leaf in the background.
The painting has still not been recovered, police said.
"It was a special piece to our people," he said. "We have faith that it will return to us."
Evagoras added that he's seen Dominguez at the church on several occasions prior to the incident, and that the accused thief has asked staff for permission to use the bathroom there multiple times.
"He's not necessarily a stranger," the priest said. "But for him to come in and take this painting — it's like he took a significant part of our worship."
The surveillance video showed the cane-carrying suspect casually entering the church, removing his jacket and then wrapping the painting in it before walking back out.
Dominguez was charged with third degree grand larceny, according to the Manhattan District Attorney's office. Bail was set to $1,000 cash and $2,000 bond, and his next court date is scheduled for May 20, authorities said.
Dominguez's attorney, Mathew J. Mari, claimed his client did not steal the painting, noting he hadn't seen the surveillance released by police. He added that Dominguez has a mental illness and currently lives in a group home.
