Former pastor arraigned on embezzlement charge in Texas

FROM The Ruidoso News Police -



District Judge Karen Parsons arraigned former Ruidoso minister Kevin Krohn Friday, set his bond and ordered him booked and released.




"The state is not opposed to a reasonable bond," Deputy District Attorney Reed Thompson said to Parsons.



Defense attorney Dan Bryant asked Parsons for a 10 percent posting of the bond.



"In this type of case restitution becomes an issue," Bryant said. "So I would ask the court for a 10 percent posting so those funds would be available for restitution later on, should that become necessary."



Bryant said this case has been pending for over 10 months, Krohn has been cooperating and the Krohns have a home in Ruidoso.



Krohn is charged with embezzlement of over $20,000 from the Lincoln County Ministerial Alliance, Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church and other area churches, a second degree felony, and with conspiracy.



Parsons ordered Krohn to post $1,000 to secure a $10,000 bond, and be photographed and fingerprinted by the Sheriff's Department, then released.



Thompson said earlier in the week that Krohn may have embezzled as much as $150,000, but the state only needs to prove that he stole $20,000 to make it a second degree felony. The conspiracy charge is a fourth degree felony.



Bryant and attorney Angie Schneider-Cook maintain that Krohn is innocent of the charges.



"We have faith that he will be exonerated by a jury of his peers," Schneider-Cook said.