Pastor accused of embezzling thousands waives prelim

A former pastor from Eaton County was back in court on Monday and waived his right to a preliminary exam.

WE'LL KEEP YOU UPDATED.THE COMMUNITY OF OLIVET ISSPEAKING OUT TONIGHT... ABOUT ALOCAL PASTOR ACCUSEDOF STEALING MONEY FROM HISCHURCH..PROSECUTORS SAY..

HE STOLE MORETHAN 100- THOUSAND DOLLARS FROMOLIVET FIRSTASSEMBLY OF GOD.FOX 47'S CHRISTIANA FORD TALKEDTO ONE OF THOSE CHURCH MEMBERSTODAY.A QUIET COMMUNITY.

A QUAINTCHURCH."IT'S A SMALL FAMILY CHURCH TYPETHING.

IT'S NOT A GIGANTICCONGREGATION"OLIVET FIRST ASSEMBLY OF GODSTILL REELING WITH ALLEGATIONSTHAT THEIR FORMER PASTOR STOLETHEIR HARD EARNED MONEY."WE'RE PAST THE COMFORT ZONE.WE'RE MOVING ON.

WE'RE THERE TOPRAISE CHRIST AND THAT'S WHATWE'LL CONTINUE TO DO"67-YEAR-OLD DOUGLAS HAMMONDACCUSED OF STEALING MORE THANONE HUNDRED THOUSANDDOLLARS FROM THE CHURCH.BRECK SEARL TELLING ME-- HE ANDTHE REST OF THE CONGREGATIONFOUND OUT THROUGH HAMMON'SWRITTEN CONFESSION TO THEM."IT'S A HARD, BITTER PILL.""EVERYBODY THAT ATTENDS THECHURCH WAS EXTREMELY SHOCKED BYWHAT HAS TRANSPIRED.WE'RE ALSO TAUGHT AS CHRISTIANSTO FORGIVE BECAUSE WE ALL SIN.HE WILL BE PUNISHED ACCORDINGLYBY THE COURTS AND BY GOD SOWE'RE NOT TO JUDGE"SHOCK FELT THROUGHOUT THE OLIVETCOMMUNITY."THAT'S A TON OF MONEY.

FOR APREACHER TO DO SOMETHING LIKETHAT IT'S JUST UNSPEAKABLE."TED DID NOT WANT TO GO ON CAMERABUT HAS LIVED IN THE AREA HISWHOLE LIFE.HE SAYS HE THOUGHT HE KNEW THEFORMER PASTOR WELL."I JUST CAN'T BELIEVE THAT HEWOULD DO SOEMTHING LIKE THAT BUTYOU JUST DON'T KNOW PEOPLE FORSURE"JUST MINUTES FROM OLIVETCOLLEGE-- STUDENT MADISON LOVESAYS THE ALLEGATIONS ARE THETALKOF THE CAMPUS."I WOULDNT EXPECT IT, LIKECOMING FROM OLIVET."I ASKED SEARL HOW THE CHURCH ISHOLDING UP.

ALL HE COULD SAY WASTHAT THEY WILL ENDURE."IT'S HARD TO SHOW SYMPATHY, BUTFORGIVENESS YES.

WE ALL MAKECHOICES.

SOME OFTHEM ARE BAD.

SOME OF THEM AREWORSE THAN OTHERS BUT HE'S BEENFORGIVEN.CHRISTIANA FORD, FOX 47"HAMMOND IS DUE BACK IN COURTFEBRUARY 21ST... AFTER WAIVINGHIS PRELIMINARYEXAMINATION TODAY.WE WILL KEEP YOU UPDATED AS WE