Deputies said the suspect was taken into custody on Jan. 5.
MCDOWELL COUNTY, N.C. — A former pastor in western North Carolina is facing several charges after being accused of stealing money and items donated for hurricane relief efforts from a church, according to the McDowell County Sheriff’s Office.
Jeffrey Brian Merrow, 60, of Marion, was arrested and charged with felony embezzlement and felony larceny. Merrow was given a secured bond of $5,000.
Back in October, a deputy spoke with members of Garden Creek Baptist Church about embezzlement, fraud, and theft. According to a press release, Merrow was identified as the pastor of the church at the time and was named as the suspect.
During the meeting, church members presented multiple receipts for “goods that were never purchased or services that were never rendered, all paid for using church funds.” Deputies said one receipt was a claim to an insurance …