An Associate Pastor from Mitchell was taken into custody Wednesday, accused of embezzlement following an investigation by authorities.
According to a release from the Scottsbluff Police Department, officers were called to the United Methodist Church in Scottsbluff last Saturday, where an employee of the church told them there was an Associate Pastor who appeared to be stealing money.
The local United Methodist Church parish includes churches in Scottsbluff, Mitchell, Morrill and Henry, and investigators reviewed bank statements showing numerous unauthorized ATM withdrawals from the Mitchell Methodist Church account, totaling more than $8,000.
Officers determined the only person who had access to the debit card was 42-year-old Pastor Joseph Schumacher Jr. They also determined the Pastor cashed a check from the Mitchell Methodist Church for more than $4,000 to attend schooling which was never done.
Investigators say the total amount of money that was taken by Schumacher is at least $12,000.
He was taken into custody on suspicion of Unauthorized Use of a Financial Transaction Device more that $5,000, a Class IIA Felony, and Theft by Deception more than $1,500 Less than $5,000, a Class IV Felony.
