La Grange, Texas church was the victim of an embezzlement scheme

 A church is one of the last places one would expect a crime to happen — but it does happen. In this case, it was the First United Methodist Church in La Grange, Texas. 

According to the arrest warrant, Marsha Pyle is accused of embezzling approximately $18,000 dollars from the church. 

Pyle had been in charge of the finances for the church from mid-2015 to Aug. 31. When the new bookkeeper took over, she noticed some irregularities.

Notably, two sets of duplicated checks totaling more than $7,000. 

The church called the police in La Grange and the investigators say Pyle told them she wrote herself a check in the amount of $8,100. 

Pyle was charged with theft in early December, and since the victim was a church organization, charges carry felony weight. 

Pyle pleaded guilty to get a reduced sentence:  five years probation and she is ordered to pay restitution.