Mass. man pleads not guilty to robbing synagogue

WORCESTER, Mass. (AP) -- A Worcester resident has pleaded not guilty to stealing tens of thousands of dollars' worth of religious artifacts from a city synagogue where he worked as a maintenance man.

Donald Spencer was held on $10,000 bail at his arraignment Wednesday in Worcester Superior Court on more than a dozen counts of larceny.

Prosecutors say the 29-year-old Spencer stole the items last year from Temple Emanuel, and pawned them.

The Telegram & Gazette reports that the items stolen included Torah shields, crowns and pointers, a Havdalah spice container and a Kiddush goblet. They had been appraised at more than $30,000 in 2004.

Some have been recovered from a city pawn shop, but some have been melted down and are gone forever.

Spencer told police that he had a gambling problem.

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