Former pastor pleads guilty to stealing $110K from Habitat For Humanity.

[Bluebear]

Low.

====

OWEGO, N.Y. (AP) - A former pastor of a Southern Tier church faces prison time after pleading guilty to a charge related to the theft of nearly $111,000 from Tioga Habitat for Humanity.

David L. Heckman Jr. pleaded guilty to third-degree grand larceny under a plea agreement. The 27-year-old was accused of taking cash payments from homeowners who live in houses built by the nonprofit during July 2005 and October 2009. The payments were supposed to pay for mortgages .

Heckman was treasurer of the Tioga chapter of the charitable organization. He was arrested Nov. 1 and sent to county jail, where he will remain until sentencing May 24. He faces 3 1/2 to 7 years in prison.

Heckman was a pastor at the First Congregational Church United Church of Christ in Newark Valley.

http://www.wcax.com/Global/story.asp?S=12268416

[virgogal]

1. He should be given a year for every dollar he took. Truly evil.

[rurallib]

2. On the plus side he didn't molest any altar boys

[LiberalFighter]

3. Isn't 27 a bit young for so much responsibility?

I wonder if they had appropriate safeguards to prevent theft of this nature? Like trustees to check the accounting every 3 to 6 months of so?

[RKP5637]

4. Why am I not surprised... n/t

[rasputin1952]

5. First thing I thought of...

3.5-7 years for $110,000, some pot offenders in some states get 10 years for an ounce of weed.

I don't smoke pot, and I would not steal, but where the hell is the "Justice" in Justice?

$110,000 is a lot of money top embezzle/steal, especially form those already in dire straits, and yet, 3.5-7 years when others are doing more time for stealing far less...:(

[Bluebear]

6. 'especially form those already in dire straits'

Exactly. Somebody gets a leg up, affordable housing, and they make their cash payments to an embezzler. There should be extra punitive time in there for that.

[demtenjeep]

7. so we can see Hannity get prosecuted for his scam on families of fallen soldiers

right?

[Historic NY]

8. I just hope no one lost their home because of his criminal actions.

The payments were supposed to pay for mortgages .