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Police: Woman panhandling outside Phoenix church exposes herself to pastor

Posted at 12:22 PM, Jun 20, 2018
and last updated 2018-06-20 18:00:38-04

A woman panhandling at a Phoenix church is accused of exposing herself to a pastor who asked her to leave the property. 

Phoenix police report that on June 13, Stela Dinu, 45, was located and arrested in Glendale. 

Dinu is accused of panhandling at the Saint Theresa Catholic Church near 48th Street and Thomas Road on April 15. 

The pastor approached Dinu and her teenage son and offered services to assist her. However, the suspect refused the help. The pastor then requested that they leave the church property. 

She later returned and was "aggressively panhandling," court documents said. The pastor again offered her services, which she refused and was asked to leave. 

This time, police say, the boy threatened to fight the pastor. As they walked away, the pastor called police. 

Dinu then allegedly pulled down her skirt exposing herself to the pastor in front of her son. She also reportedly tried to grab the pastor in a sexual manner. 

After her arrest, Dinu allegedly admitted to exposing herself to the pastor. She has been charged with indecent exposure and sexual abuse.