Reverend accused of stealing couple's gift cards

Reverend accused of stealing couple's gift cards

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Story Published: Oct 3, 2007 at 12:07 AM PDT

Story Updated: Oct 3, 2007 at 8:16 PM PDT

By Derek Sciba and KATU Web Staff

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PORTLAND, Ore. - A woman who advertised her services as a reverend on Craigslist was arrested after police say she performed a marriage ceremony for a couple and then stole gift cards meant for the bride and groom.

"The wedding itself went off without a hitch, it was beautiful," said newlywed Shawn Sonnenschein.

Sonnenschein and his wife Kitty had plans for their home after their backyard wedding that was held on Sept. 16.  From the fold-down stove to the dated cabinets, the kitchen in their 1950s rancher needs work.

Wedding guests gave the couple gift cards for the remodel, but after the ceremony the Sonnenscheins realized that out of the 75 to 100 guests that attended, they had very few of them.  However, not wanting to question the generosity of their guests, they did not say anything.

"The only time that any suspicion arose was when she was in such a hurry to get out of here," said Kitty.

Over the next week or so, guests began calling the couple asking what they had purchased with their gift cards.  That is when the Sonnenscheins began to suspect that someone had stolen a number of them during the wedding.

The couple called police and investigators learned that a number of the gift cards had been redeemed at the Sherwood Home Depot and when they took a look at the store's surveillance video, they saw Sheyrima Silveira, the reverend from the Sonnenschein's wedding. 

Silveira was arrested on one count of theft in the second degree and may face additional charges once police determine the exact value of the stolen cards. She told detectives she thought the gift cards were a tip.

"There is no way in the world that this could have been a tip," said Detective Willie Halliburton with the Portland Police Bureau.

The Sonnenscheins had hired Silveira off of Craigslist, where she advertised as a legal wedding officiate.

"This is pretty blatant what she did," said Halliburton. "I think there are other victims out there."

No one answered at Silveira's Newberg apartment when we went knocking, and she did not return our calls.

On her business Web site, Silveira not only posted photos of her own wedding, but the Sonnenschein's wedding as well.

Meanwhile, the Sonnenscheins are moving on.

"We're getting past it," said Shawn. "We're not letting it get into us at all."

The Sonnenscheins said Silveira did file their marriage license and that their marriage is legal.

It is surprisingly easy to become a registered officiate so you can legally sign a marriage license. I became an ordained minister online for free, right from the KATU newsroom.

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