Embezzling pastor must pay back $320K

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - A Kentwood pastor who admitted to a deacon that he had been stealing from the church could spend 20 years behind bars.

Etheridge Moore was charged in August with embezzling $100,000 or more from Heritage Baptist Church. He pleaded guilty to that charge in October.

Tuesday, Moore was sentenced to one to 20 years in a state prison and was ordered to pay restitution to the tune of $320,000.

Court documents show the sheriff's department was contacted by the church's head deacon. The deacon told investigators that Moore had contacted him and requested he contact the sheriff's department and ask they launch an investigation into embezzlement, "as he had been stealing money from the church."

"Pastor Moore was turning in receipts for reimbursement to the church," the documents say in part. "These reimbursements were never approved by the Deacons of the church. An interview was conducted of Pastor Moore where he confessed to stealing the money."

Church officials initially told authorities they did not want to pursue charges, but the case was investigated anyway.