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Ex-Pastor Pleads Guilty to Stealing from Central Michigan Church

By Associated Press
douglas hammond michigan stealing church
Douglas Hammond, former pastor of Olivet First Assembly of God in Olivet, Michigan, pled guilty to stealing hundreds of thousands from his church over several years. (Video screengrab / Fox 47 News)

The former pastor of a central Michigan church has pleaded guilty to embezzling hundreds of thousands of dollars from the church over several years, prosecutors said.

Douglas Hammond pleaded guilty as charged to one count of embezzlement over $100,000 during a court hearing earlier this month in an Eaton County court, the Lansing State Journal reported.

Prosecutors said Hammond stole $285,000 from Olivet First Assembly of God Church over nearly six years, from January 2014 through November 2019, when he was a pastor there.

Hammond’s attorney, David Carter, said his client pleaded guilty on Nov. 12 to embezzlement because he “wanted to do what was right.”

“He understands that he has disappointed his family and the church on so many different levels. He hopes that his family and church can one day forgive him as he seeks forgiveness with a repentant heart,” Carter told WSYM-TV.

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church stealing michigan
Olivet First Assembly of God in Charlotte, Michigan (Video screengrab)

Yvonne Good, the treasurer of Olivet First Assembly of God Church, said the church was not interested in commenting on ministry finances-related cases.

Carter declined to comment on what Hammond did with the stolen money, but said there were “a lot of special circumstances” with the case.

Hammond’s sentencing is set for June 9, 2022, due to concerns about his health, said Chris Anderson, Eaton County’s chief assistant prosecuting attorney.

 

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One Response

  1. I know Doug Hammond since 1972. He has had a few big time failures in life. But who among us is without sin? How many have broken the law and not been caught. Yes, Doug did wrong, so have I. Doug is asking for forgiveness and as the Lord’s Prayer states we have an obligation to do so if we expect the Lord to forgive us. I don’t condone what he did, I don’t condone things I have done and if you are honest you also don’t condone things you have done. But he has admitted what he has done, he has asked for forgiveness and I believe the Lord is just and will forgive our iniquities. He has been punished as he has lost all, family, friends, reputation. But God is there ready to forgive if we only repent and turn from our evil ways. I believe my friend Doug will or has done exactly that. The state will now punish him, for know our sins will find us out. But God forgives and that’s what matters.

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