Former church secretary pleads guilty to stealing

A former church secretary pleaded guilty Nov. 15 to two felony counts of stealing from Cape Girardeau's First Baptist Church, and attorneys on both sides are predicting she'll walk away with probation and orders to pay back what she stole.

Investigators said Rena Davis, 34, of McClure, Ill., pocketed more than $20,000 from the church in 2001 by writing checks using church accounts and keeping the money. Originally, she was charged in March of 2002 with three additional felonies for forgery, but those charges were dismissed as part of the plea agreement agreed to by Cape Girardeau County assistant prosecutor Ian Sutherland.

Davis presented her guilty plea to Judge Peter Statler, who set a sentencing date of Jan. 10, 2003, at 10 a.m. Defense attorney Al Lowes said if his client's pre-sentence investigation goes well, she could receive a suspended sentence, subject to restitution.

Sutherland agreed Davis will likely receive probation and be ordered to pay restitution, an outcome that has become quite common in similar theft cases.

"In cases like these, we get to be almost a collection agency," Sutherland said of the prosecutor's office. "The general thrust of these kinds of crimes is to get them to pay it back. If we just put them in prison, they don't have to pay. Then, the only recourse left to the victim to get their money back is to file a civil case."

Lowes said Davis was not responsible for the entire $20,000 that went missing.

"They blamed her for way more than she did," Lowes said. "I don't think it was anywhere near that. I think it was closer to eight, nine or $10,000."

Davis worked as the church's office manager for about 14 years before leaving in December of 2001.

The congregation consists of about 250 people. The missing money came from tithes and donations from members and was not covered by insurance, according to the Rev. Jay White. Messages left at White's home and the church for comment on Davis' plea were not returned late Thursday.

mwells@semissourian.com

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