Pastor James Blaine of San Antonio was arrested for stealing over $100k. The crime allegedly occured while he lead Good Shepherd Church in Greenfield, Ohio. The investigation took seven months. He was arrested while attending a bankruptcy hearing.
The counts involve 13 counts of Forgery, one count of Unauthorized Use of Property, one count of Forgery, and two counts of Aggravated Theft.
What about oversight? Treat the church like a business. Require two signatures for all expenditures and conduct periodic audits. Better yet, separate the pastor from the business of the church. Treat him like an employee instead of a man who would not steal.
