Friday, October 8, 2010

Pastor Bob’ heading to prison for 10 years Robert Nelson pleads no contest to stealing from Holly Hill church in Florida

A former Holly Hill pastor was sentenced today to 10 years in prison and ordered to pay $650,000 in restitution after pleading no contest to grand theft of more than $100,000 in the theft of money from the Ridgewood Avenue Community Church.Robert N. Riddle, 59, who goes by "Pastor Bob," according to an arrest affidavit, listed an address in Marietta, Ga., when he was arrested.A co-defendant in the case, William J. Harris, 65, is still awaiting trial, Assistant State Attorney Christopher Kelly said.The thefts occurred in 2006, according to court documents.The two are accused of writing at least 12 checks solely for their benefit and/or missionary activities in Zambia, Africa, according to police reports.Riddle is also accused of using a debit card that belonged to the check for more than 75 transactions, some of which resulted in overdraft penalties for the church.Circuit Judge R. Michael Hutcheson also sentenced Riddle to 10 years of probation following the prison term.

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