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After deliberating for an hour and a half Wednesday afternoon, jurors returned a verdict of guilty against a woman accused of embezzling nearly $150,000 from a Lawrence County church.
Allegations against former treasurer of Center Point Missionary Baptist Church Carolyn Wright first surfaced in September, 2006, while the church was involved in a building project. Wright was arrested in December of last year after a Lawrence County Grand Jury returned an indictment, charging her with the crime of theft over $60,000.
Church members testified Wednesday that it became apparent that something was amiss when they were forced to borrow considerably more money to fund the building project than had been anticipated. Current church treasurer Hobert Seymore testified that a finance committee was appointed to look into the matter, and that they began investigating to determine whether funds had been deposited onto a Certificate of Deposit, then forgotten.
After a time the church hired the services of a local accountant to conduct an audit and track down the funds. The accountant, who asked not to be identified, took the stand Wednesday, testifying that her investigation uncovered a total amount of money missing to be $149,869.81.
The accountant told jurors that Wright had embezzled funds through various types of measures. While cash from collection plates was taken, she indicated that Wright had also written some 50 checks to either herself or her husband for “reimbursements.” Those checks totaled $67,545.98.
The church had established a charge account at the Lawrenceburg Walmart store some years ago, the accountant explained, and as Treasurer, Wright was issued a card to the account. The accountant testified that documentation showed Wright had used the card habitually to purchase items for personal use. The total amount of charges made on the church card discovered to be for personal use was tallied at $10,737.13.
In addition, the accountant reported that Wright had used church accounts to make her student loan payments, car payments, and to fund her Scottrade stock market account. The thefts were determined to span a 3 ½ year period, from 2003 through 2006.
District Attorney General Mike Bottoms and Assistant District Attorney Doug Dicus presented evidence showing funds taken from the church, with corresponding deposits into Wright’s personal bank accounts.
Sarah Trousdale of Community Bank of Lawrence County testified that Wright had removed $9,100 cash from her lock box on one occasion, then wrote a $900 check in order to open a Money Market account. The significance of not going over the $10,000 mark, she pointed out, was, “If it was one cent over $10,000 it has to be reported to the IRS.”
Special Agent Vance Jack, a Criminal Investigator with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation took the stand Wednesday afternoon, explaining that he had been the one who had confronted Wright about the allegations, then took her written statement. Jack testified that Wright gave a full account of her illegal activities. “She was very forthcoming, very truthful and very cooperative,” he said.
Jack read Wright’s statement into the record. In it, Wright pointed out that all of her unlawful activities were conducted without the knowledge of her husband. “My husband didn’t know about any of the thefts,” the document stated.
Testimony revealed that soon after she was confronted with the crimes, Wright went before the congregation and made a full confession, asking for their forgiveness. The church’s finance committee then drew up a repayment schedule.
Defense Attorney John Colley pointed out to jurors that the entire congregation voted upon the repayment agreement. It was signed by Wright and church representatives and was then notarized. Wright, he stated, began repayment immediately, paying the debt in full within fifteen months. Under the agreement, Wright had until March 31, 2013, to repay the monies.
During closing arguments Dicus declared, “The proof is uncontroverted and overwhelming…This is not a one time momentary lapse in judgment…this is 3 ½ years of episode after episode after episode…the church got it’s money back - she paid it back when she got caught…but the consequences can’t stop there.”
Collie questioned whether Wright “did not have the church’s effective consent,” an element that had to be proven in order to convict on the crime of theft. Since Wright was serving as treasurer, Collie argued she had been entrusted to take care of church funds. He pointed out that the repayment contract penned by church members “treated it as an indebtedness, not a crime…The church family had a problem,” he explained, “And they tried to deal with it themselves.”
Bottoms countered, asking jurors to dish out equal justice for all, including Wright. “Sympathy cannot enter into the decision,” he emphasized.
Once jurors received instructions from Judge Robert Jones, they began deliberations around 4:50 p.m. After approximately 1 ½ hours they returned with a unanimous verdict. They pronounced Wright guilty as charged, affixing the maximum fine of $25,000.
The Class B felony is punishable by between 8 and 12 years in prison. A sentencing hearing has been scheduled for 1:00 p.m. on Friday, June 29.