Brainerd Woman Convicted In Church Embezzlement Case

A Brainerd woman will spend time in jail and pay restitution in an embezzlement case that some say caused devastating harm to a church.  48-year-old Theresa Barrett was convicted of embezzling money from the Christian Science Church of Brainerd, sentenced to 15 days in jail and ordered to pay restitution of nearly 80 thousand dollars.  The embezzlement occurred for more than two years beginning in 2011.  Church officials say because of the crime they were forced to sell the building they had occupied for more than 80 years.  Barrett was a third-generation congregation member.