FRANKLIN TWP — A Butler County woman is accused of stealing a wallet from another parishioner’s purse during a Sunday Mass in October.

State police Tuesday charged Valerie Lee Downs-Ulisky, 23, of Center Township with theft and receiving stolen property.

Troopers suspect Downs-Ulisky was attending Mass at Mount Chestnut Presbyterian Church in Franklin Township on Oct. 19 when she lifted the wallet from the purse of a 49-year-old Butler woman seated in the pew in front of her.

Downs-Ulisky allegedly took the wallet to the women’s restroom and removed the money — about $30 — and several credit cards and gift cards, police said.

She left the church, according to court documents, and tossed the wallet into the bushes around the parking lot.

During their investigation, police said they spoke to Downs-Ulisky’s fiance, who admitted he saw her take the wallet from the victim’s purse. Police later recovered the stolen credit cards and gift cards from the suspect’s home.

Confronted with the evidence, documents said, Downs-Ulisky confessed to the crime.

This is not her first brush with the law, court records showed. She is accused in separate cases of shoplifting in Butler Township on July 12 and 17.

The earlier case is pending in Butler County Court. A preliminary hearing in the latter case is set for Jan. 15.

Downs-Ulisky’s attorney, Matthew Kalina, did not immediately return a telephone call Wednesday.