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DA asks state to investigate alleged church embezzlement
District Attorney Scott Thomas has asked the State Bureau of Investigation to investigate an "alleged embezzlement" at Garber United Methodist Church in Trent Woods.
Thomas said he is joined in the request by Craven County Sheriff Jerry Monette and Trent Woods Police Chief Mike Register.
Thomas said the church Administrative Council met Wednesday night and decided to file a formal report of the missing money with the District Attorney's Office.
Thomas said the financial crimes unit of the S.B.I. will investigate.
"The unit will work with church officials to determine how much money is missing, the person or persons responsible and where the money was placed or spent," Thomas said.
Thomas said that once the investigation is complete, he will meet with the investigators and church officials to review their findings and make a decision about any criminal charges.
Thomas said he was telephoned Wednesday night after the council met. Church leaders subsequently sent Thomas a letter asking for the investigation.
An administrator at the church resigned after she was found to have taken a large amount of money over several years, according to church officials.
Church members were told about the missing money in a letter from Garber's 2008 Administrative Council. The 19-member council oversees various church administrative duties.
The letter, dated Feb. 27, said the woman had admitted taking the money. Church leaders said at the time that they wanted restitution.
The church's pastor, Powell Osteen, said recently that arrangements had been made to take the "Christian approach" in handling the matter.
"The Christian approach is confession, repentance, restitution and restoration," Osteen said. "We are going to pursue the restitution route."
Some members of the congregation, who did not wish to be named, said Friday that a local attorney has been hired by church leaders to address the options in the matter. The attorney is not a member of the church.
Francine Sawyer can be reached at 635-5671 or at fsawyer@freedomenc.com
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| THE LADY MENTIONED IN TRENTON HAD HER NAME PLASTERED ON THE TV AND NEWSPAPER. THE GARBER CHURCH CRIMINAL WAS SUSAN BARNEY HER HUSBAND WORKS AT SHERIFFS DEPT, IN CRAVEN COUNTY, INVESTIGATOR. MAYBE THAT is WHY SHE STILL RIDES AROUND IN HER MERCEDES AND DOES AS SHE PLEASES. HER HUSBAND STILL CONTINUES TO WORK AT THE DEPT. AND SWEARS HEKNOWS NOTHING OF HIS WIFES CRIME? GET A LOAD OF THAT. EVEN THROUGH HE HAS TAKEN HIS PLEASURE RIDES ON HIS NEW I HEARD HARLEY AND THEIR TRIPS TO COSTA RICA, AND TO HELP IN RUSSIA TO BUILD FOR THE ORPHANS NEW HOUSING. I am SURE THE CHURCH HELP PAY FOR THESE TWO TRIPs. THEIR SON WAS ARRESTED AGAIN AND BEEN IN DRUG REHAB 6 OR 7 TIMES COSTING THE TAX PAYERS. I ASSUME THE LADY IN TRENTON WAS ARRESTED, TELL ME WHAT WAS THE DIFFERENCE IN THE TWO CRIMES. DID SUSAN HAPPEN TO JOIN A MORE LOVING AND FORGIVEING CHURCH, OR SHE HAS A HUSBAND THAT HAS SOME PULL? LIKE I SAID IF IT WERE ME I WOULD HAVE BEEN LOCKED UP AND BONDED I GUESS. HE NEEDS TO BE DISMISSED FROM THE FORCE AFTER ALL HE WAS FIRED FROM THE ALE, I READ. SO, TELL ME DOES THIS SHOW JUSTICE FOR ALL? NO WAY. PEOPLE I GUESS IT STILL IS IN WHO YOU KNOW AND HOW BIG YOUR LIPS ARE. |
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| REALLY - May 01, 2008 05:35:34 PM | Remove Comment |
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| ya ll i didnt know she was stealing i swear. |
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| 252 - Apr 28, 2008 06:55:00 PM | Remove Comment |
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| For the deleted comments go to Opinion in the header above. Then go to message boards. Go to NC News and Government and the go to Garber issues. |
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| more - Apr 10, 2008 09:06:00 PM | Remove Comment |
