Youth pastor indicted in embezzlement case

Former youth minister William Charles Lohn, center, is escorted to the Bedford County Courthouse by Shelbyville detectives Charles Merlo, left, and Brian Crews, right, to be arraigned Monday after he was indicted by the Bedford County grand jury on charges of theft over $60,000.
(T-G Photo by Brian Mosely) [Order this photo]

William Charles Lohn was taken into custody by Shelbyville detectives Brian Crews and Charles Merlo and brought before Circuit Court Judge Robert Crigler for arraignment.

His case was directly presented to the grand jury by Crews and Merlo instead of the matter making its way through General Sessions court.

Allegations surfaced several weeks ago that Lohn embezzled $73,000 from the church over a three-year period. Lohn has been terminated from his position at the church.

Crews said last week that one of the members of the church became aware there were discrepancies with their finances and upon looking at the numbers further, discovered that Lohn was allegedly "writing himself additional checks."

Shelbyville police were contacted by the church's pastor and treasurer, who requested their assistance in the matter.

Associate Pastor David Brown told the T-G last week that "we are cooperating with authorities by providing them with information and we are praying for Charles and his reconciliation with the church."

Lohn's next court date will be Sept. 21 at 9 a.m.. He is being represented by the public defender's office and was freed on $5,000 bond.

Sex charges

Also indicted by the grand jury on Monday was David Wayne Phillips, who is accused of several crimes of a sexual nature involving children.

He is charged with rape of a child, two counts of aggravated sexual battery and four violations of the sex offender registry.

Detective Becky Hord of the Bedford County Sheriff's Department testified eariler this month about the investigation that led to Phillips' arrest, saying that she had been looking for him since December 2008 after Phillips allegedly failed to report in, as he was required to do four times a year as a registered sex offender.

Hord testified that in February, while Phillips was working for a local trucking firm, he allegedly allowed a child to ride in the truck where he allegedly committed two sexual acts leading to the charges of rape of a child.

The two counts of aggravated sexual battery stem from alleged incidents in which Phillips is charged with touching two Shelbyville children.

The four counts of violating the sex offender registry are due to Phillips allegedly failing to report changes of living arrangements, providing false information about his whereabouts and violating his residential restrictions by living with two children.

Others indicted by the grand jury Monday were:

* Robert L. Arnold, 59, DUI (8th offense) habitual traffic offender, leaving the scene of an accident, violation of implied consent.

* Mary Cathleena Blindt, 26, theft between $500 - $1,000, forgery (two counts), introduction of contraband into a penal institution, failure to appear.

* Timothy Eugene Bowman, 37, violation of the sexual offender registry (five counts).

* Ina Mae Draper, 19, forgery.

* Veronica Lynn Floyd, 49, theft over $10,000 (three counts) theft over $1,000.

* Kasity Dawn Fults, 18, forgery (eight counts).

* Caroline Denise Green, 47, DUI (fifth offense) driving on revoked, violation of implied consent.

* James Lemuel Harris, 74, sale of schedule IV (two counts), delivery of schedule IV (two counts), sale of schedule III (four counts), delivery of schedule III (four counts), sale of schedule II (three counts), delilvery of schedule II (three counts).

* William Robert Haynes, 44, promotion of methamphetamine manufacture, possession of drug paraphernalia.

* Larry Randall Henry, II, 32, aggravated burglary.

* Christopher Hill, 25, forgery (four counts).

* Kerri Michelle Neal, 36, theft over $1,000.

* Troy James Neal, 32, theft over $1,000.

* Mary Elizabeth Newson, 36, sale of schedule III (two counts), delivery of schedule III (two counts).

* Stacy Carl Ortel, 41, DUI (seventh offense), driving on revoked (fourth offense) leaving the scene of an accident, violation of implied consent.

* Stacy Lynn Rimmer, 38, possession of schedule II for resale, possession of schedule II with intent to deliver, promotion of methamphetamine manufacture.

* Christopher Robinson, 38, habitual traffic offender, evading arrest, violation of light law, failure to appear.

* Carlos Valdez, 44, vehicular assault, reckless endangerment (three counts).

* Kellie Diane Whisman, 31, filing false report.

* Gregory Allen White, 46, sale of schedule II (two counts), delilvery of schedule II (two counts).