Minister sentenced to year in jail / He embezzled more than $1,400 from Layton, Utah church

A judge has ordered a minister, described by his victim as "a wolf in minister's clothes," to serve a year in jail for embezzling more than $1,400 from Christian Life Center in Layton.

The Rev. Kyle McCarty, 39, appeared in 2nd District Court in Farmington on Monday for a sentencing hearing on a class A misdemeanor theft.
He was originally charged with a third-degree felony theft, but pleaded to the reduced charge Aug. 31. He was originally set to be sentenced Nov. 9.
His attorney, Camille Neider, said her client was prepared to pay back the money and that McCarty was willing to do community service in Ohio, where he lives now.
"We have no issues with the facts," Neider said. "He admits taking property that wasn't his and for missing the other four court dates."
Judge Jon Memmott sentenced McCarty to serve one year in Davis County Jail and set a review date for April 19.
The Rev. Dr. Myke Crowder, senior pastor, spoke at the hearing before McCarty was sentenced.
He said McCarty has moved "from one church to another in brief stays, costing thousands of dollars to churches and leaving a trail of damage and unpaid bills reflecting negatively on the local church -- all as a 'minister.' "
McCarty had been hired in 2007 as the Christian Life Center's worship leader and oversaw the music department, Crowder said.
Church officials had done a background check on McCarty but found nothing because no other church had filed charges, he said.
Within three months, the church's accounting staff noticed problems with the accounts and reported it to Crowder.
Crowder confronted McCarty, who threatened to file sexual harassment charges on behalf of his wife against Crowder.
Crowder said he did not back down and McCarty did file those charges with the state's Equal Opportunity Division.
When the charges were investigated, McCarty withdrew his claims, admitting he made them up, Crowder said.
McCarty is a "fraud, but more importantly, an ever-present danger to all Christian communities," Crowder said. He said he has learned over the past year, since McCarty's arrest, that other churches are aware of McCarty's actions but have been afraid to warn other pastors.
After the hearing, Davis County Attorney Troy Rawlings said, "Pastor Crowder has integrity and courage."
Rawlings said Crowder was able to articulate in the courtroom the impact of McCarty's crimes, not only on himself but on the church and the school, Layton Christian Academy.