Former treasurer for church sentenced

POMEROY, Ohio – A former church treasurer has been sentenced on a charge of theft.

Maxine Rose, 67, of Racine, Ohio was sentenced in the Meigs County Court of Common Pleas May 8, 2017.

She appeared before Judge I. Carson Crow in the Meigs County Court of Common Pleas with her attorney, Denise Bunce. Rose entered a guilty plea last week on one count of Theft, a felony of the fourth degree. She had been indicted by a Meigs County Grand Jury on Sept. 16, 2016 for taking up to $24,000 from the Southern Charge of the United Methodist Church.

Following a pre-sentence investigation, Judge I. Carson Crow declined following the plea agreement as presented by Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, Jeff Adkins. In the plea agreement, Rose would pay $9,000 in restitution which Adkins said Rose had paid the $9,000. Additionally, the plea agreement outlined that Rose would write a letter of apology to the church, never work with money in either a paid or volunteer position for an organization, and be subject to community control.

Instead, Judge Crow sentenced Rose to pay $24,000 in restitution and serve seven months in prison in addition to not working either paid or volunteer with money, the letter of apology and community control.

An impact statement from the church was read by a representative of the church. In the statement the church alluded to Rose being a “friend and sister in Christ” and according to the statement they attempted to address the issue directly with Rose two years ago.

After Rose, who had been the treasurer for the church for a couple of decades, the books were handed over to Randy Dudding according to statements made in court.

Judge Crow asked the prosecution as to how they arrived at the number of $24,602. Adkins said it was what the state felt it could prove. Judge Crow said he felt there was probably more, but could only address what was before him. He ordered the rest of money be paid in restitution.

Bunce addressed the court stating her client was truly remorseful for what had happened. Rose briefly spoke on her own behalf, tearfully apologizing for “embarrassing the church” and everything that had happened.

Judge Crow said that Rose “held a position of trust” and he was “more than troubled” by the some of the information in the pre-sentence investigation. He mentioned Lois Sterrett, who had information in the matter, but has since passed away. He commented that there was no record of some money being given out or not. Judge Crow said there was at least 100 incidents of records missing from 2011 to 2016.

Bunce asked if her client was able to come up with the rest of the restitution if Judge Crow would consider reducing the prison term. Judge Crow did not indicate that he would but that the court “would listen” to what she could present.

The 67-year old Rose is scheduled to report to the Meigs County Sheriff’s Office on Monday, May 15 at 9 a.m. for processing and transport to prison to begin serving seven months in prison.