Breakabeen-North Blenheim Presbyterian Church treasurer Emma Maxwell of Fulton was arrested Thursday on charges she stole more than $143,000 from the church--money Schoharie County Sheriff's deputies said she used on "used cars and little vacations."
Ms. Maxwell, 54, was jailed in lieu of $5,000 cash bail or $10,000 secured bond but made bail Friday and was released.
The arrest for grand larceny-second degree followed a 21/2 month investigation by deputies, who said the thefts began shortly after Ms. Maxwell began the unpaid job in June 2007 and continued until September 2011.
Ms. Maxwell turned herself in Thursday, said Deputy Dan Smith, who led the investigation.
"She was very cooperative," Deputy Smith said. "She seemed surprised by the amount [she'd taken]. She was very apologetic to the church."
Deputy Smith said the church's pastor, Rev. Robert Kendall, discovered the missing money November 2 during a routine call with their mutual fund investor.
Deputy Smith's investigation began the next day and Grand Jury subpoenas were used to obtain business and credit card records along with other documentation, police said.
Though it's unusual for a 40-member congregation to have more than $143,000 to lose, Deputy Smith said the church has an endowment from a couple of wealthy parishioners who died in the 1980s and '90s.
Ms. Maxwell was apparently transferring money from investments into the church's checking account, he said, and writing checks both for cash and at local stores from the church's NBT checking account.
"She told me some of the money went for medical bills, small vacations, a wedding, and cars," Deputy Smith said.
The vacations were to New England-Vermont, Massachusetts, Maine-and the cars were mostly used, he said.
"Nothing extravagant."
Police said this is Ms. Maxwell's first offense.
According to District Attorney Jim Sacket, if she's found guilty, Ms. Maxwell could be sentenced to anything from probation to 5-15 years in state prison.
"One of our primary jobs is to try to recoup the money," DA Sacket said. If Ms. Maxwell were able to make the church "whole" again, she'd likely face only probation.
"We've seen this kind of thing in small organizations many times over the years," DA Sacket said, "where there's just one person entrusted with all the money decisions. It's not a good situation."
Deputies said the thefts also included bills Ms. Maxwell wasn't authorized to pay-but did-for family members living at a home the church owns in North Blenheim after they lost their own home in flooding from Hurricane Irene.