Bookkeeper guilty of stealing $320,000 from Newport church
ocregister.com | 5/28/08 Jeff Overley
NEWPORT BEACH – A former Irvine resident was sentenced to six years in prison today after pleading guilty to stealing $320,000 from Newport Harbor Lutheran Church, prosecutors said.
Cheryl Granger, 45, bilked the 200-member church during her employment as office manager and bookkeeper by forging the signatures of church officials on checks she made payable to herself and a Nevada company she started with her husband.
Granger, who was ordered to pay $333,133 in restitution, used some of the cash to pay off credit card debt, authorities said. The scheme took place during Granger's tenure from 2002 to 2006, unraveling when a new pastor took over and noticed an array of unpaid bills. About the same time, Granger resigned and moved to New Hampshire, where police arrested her in March.
She pleaded guilty to one count of grand theft and seven counts of forgery, all felonies. She also faced a sentencing enhancement for property damage exceeding $150,000.
Jim Miller, the church treasurer, said closure is still elusive because the congregation awaits Granger's repayment of the stolen money.
"Although somebody has gone to jail for it, that doesn't really solve our mission to use the money to spread God's word," Miller said. "Putting somebody behind bars is justice, but we really need to recover our money in order to feel good about what happened."