Cape Girardeau minister faces trial next week over unauthorized checks at Arkansas church

A jury trial has been set for a Cape Girardeau pastor facing three felony counts for property theft at his former church in Arkansas.

The Rev. Cecil Thomas Jr., pastor of Second Missionary Baptist Church in Cape Girardeau, was charged with writing unauthorized checks to himself, the property of Pleasant Grove Church in Osceola, Ark., in the amount of $1,400 each, according to the felony information signed by deputy prosecuting attorney Catherine P. Dean.

The charges were filed Oct. 5, 2006, after the pastor left the church to come to Cape Gir?ardeau. The charges refer to an incident that allegedly occurred Aug. 28, 2005.

Bond was set at $5,000, according to a probable-cause statement.

On Nov. 19, Cape Girardeau police apprehended Thomas on a routine traffic violation. The officer ran a check of his driver's license, which revealed an active Mississippi County, Ark., warrant for failure to appear in court Nov. 19 for larceny.

After conferring with sheriff department officials in Arkansas, Cape Girardeau police detained Thomas and began to process him, because the sheriff's department said they would extradite him, said Sgt. Barry Hovis, spokesman for the Cape Girardeau Police Department.

Five hours later, an Arkansas judge revoked the warrant, and Cape Girardeau police released Thomas.

According to Thomas' attorney, Roy C. Lewellan, the incorrect court date had been filed with the circuit clerk and a new date had been set, causing the judge to pull the warrant.

"All we wanted was to set a court date," said Dean about the failure-to-appear warrant.

On Monday, a circuit judge set Thomas' case for jury trial on Dec. 11, but the pastor is convinced it will not get that far.

"It won't make it to court because these bogus charges are going to be dropped; I know I'm innocent," Thomas said.

He called the charges a "false accusation," and said there were several individuals in the church who had a "vendetta" against him because of unrelated incidents.

Because the matter was still in litigation, the pastor at Pleasant Grove Church, the Rev. Luther Woodfield, declined to comment on the matter.

Lewellan said the church financial office did not orchestrate the charges, but one individual, and that the money was part of a severance package the church owed his client.

Dean, the deputy prosecutor, declined to comment on the facts of the case because it is still open.

Second Baptist Church deacon Emmitt Baker said the church will hold an open meeting Friday night to discuss the issue.

He declined further comment.

bdicosmo@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 245