A former pastor of the Plymouth Community Church has been charged with theft.
According to the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department, police met with a church representative September 7, 2022 regarding the discovery of funds missing from the church account. Police say it was found that the pastor, 34-year-old Darek Morris, of Walkerton had been transferring additional funds from the church account to pay his own personal credit card balances, as well as taking additional money over his salary. The alleged action took place from January 2020 until discovered in July 2022.
It was in July 2022 Morris was terminated as pastor of the church, according to the report.
From March 2020 until July 2022, it was reportedly found that transactions totaled $100,994.74 in funds taken in addition to his salary of $57,376.70 paid from the church account directly to credit cards in the name of Darek Morris.
During an interview with police, Morris allegedly admitted to the theft and took responsibility for his actions.
Case report information was submitted to the Marshall County Prosecutor’s Office and an arrest warrant was issued for Morris’ arrest. Police say he turned himself into the Marshall County Jail on a charge of theft, a Level 5 Felony. He was given a cash bond of $10,000.
Suspects are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
