MARIETTA, Ga. (ABP) – A Georgia couple is accused of stealing more than $88,000 from an Atlanta-area Southern Baptist church.
Cobb County police arrested Susan Summers, 50, and James Street, 51, who share an address in Adairsville, Ga., Oct. 22, on charges the couple stole funds from Noonday Baptist Church in Marietta, Ga.
Summers, an employee at the 1,300-member congregation affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention, was charged with forgery and theft. Street was charged with theft by receiving stolen property.
According to an arrest warrant quoted by local media, the couple opened a joint checking account with 51 checks totaling $88,609.41 written by Summers on the church’s account. Police say the thefts occurred between Dec. 17 and Sept. 7.
Both Summers and Street were booked into jail in lieu of $100,000 bond. She remained incarcerated as of the afternoon of Oct. 25, while he managed to post bond over the weekend, according to jail records.
Officials of the church, which currently has an interim pastor, have declined comment.
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Bob Allen is managing editor of Associated Baptist Press.