Former area minister to appear in Hillsboro Municipal Court for arraignment
Lead Summary
By
-
Former Greenfield area minister Jim Blaine has been arrested and charged with one count of theft, a felony of the third degree, according to Highland County Sheriff Ron Ward.
Blaine, now of San Antonio, Texas, is currently being held at the Highland County Justice Center on a $100,000 bond and appeared in the Hillsboro Municipal Court before The Honorable Judge David McKenna on April 28 at 2 p.m. Bond was continued, and a preliminary hearing has been scheduled for next week.
According to the Highland County Sheriff's Office, Blaine was arrested in Hamilton County on April 27 by the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office Fugitive/ Warrant Squad at a bankruptcy hearing that he had recently initiated.
The case has also been presented to the Highland County Prosecutor's Office for presentation to an upcoming session of the Highland County Grand Jury, where additional felony charges are likely.
According to the Highland County Sheriff's Office, Blaine was arrested in Hamilton County on April 27 by the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office Fugitive/ Warrant Squad at a bankruptcy hearing that he had recently initiated.
The case has also been presented to the Highland County Prosecutor's Office for presentation to an upcoming session of the Highland County Grand Jury, where additional felony charges are likely.
According to Ward, the theft is in association with Blaine's former ministry at a Greenfield area church. Blaine is expected to appear in Hillsboro Municipal Court this week, pending the extradition from Hamilton County.
According to Highland County Court, Judge Robert Judkins has recused himself from the case, and Hillsboro Municipal Court Judge David McKenna will preside.
An affidavit out of Highland County Court in Greenfield dated April 26, states that Det. Sgt. Daniel Croy said, "in October 2009, Highland County Sheriff's Office received complaints from church board members with the Good Shepherd Church, located at 12920 State Route 28 Greenfield ... The complaints consisted of possible forgeries involving these board members' signatures on bank loan-related records in order to facilitate a theft offense. An investigation was then initiated and through the last seven months records have been obtained from a variety of financial and banking institutions. Upon review of these records, as well as conducting numerous interviews, it was found that from a period starting in January 2004, through December 2009, James A. Blaine obtained money illegally using the Good Shepherd Church name and information. From 2004 to 2009, James A. Blaine took over $100,000 and less than $500,000 beyond the consent and authority of the Good Shepherd Church."
Ward said bond has been set at $100,000.
[[In-content Ad]]According to Highland County Court, Judge Robert Judkins has recused himself from the case, and Hillsboro Municipal Court Judge David McKenna will preside.
An affidavit out of Highland County Court in Greenfield dated April 26, states that Det. Sgt. Daniel Croy said, "in October 2009, Highland County Sheriff's Office received complaints from church board members with the Good Shepherd Church, located at 12920 State Route 28 Greenfield ... The complaints consisted of possible forgeries involving these board members' signatures on bank loan-related records in order to facilitate a theft offense. An investigation was then initiated and through the last seven months records have been obtained from a variety of financial and banking institutions. Upon review of these records, as well as conducting numerous interviews, it was found that from a period starting in January 2004, through December 2009, James A. Blaine obtained money illegally using the Good Shepherd Church name and information. From 2004 to 2009, James A. Blaine took over $100,000 and less than $500,000 beyond the consent and authority of the Good Shepherd Church."
Ward said bond has been set at $100,000.