BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- A warrant was issued late last week for the arrest of a former Dexter, Mo., pastor accused of stealing more than $112,000 from his church.
Marcus Credale Geuin, 35, was charged Monday, Aug. 25, with the Class B felony of stealing and the Class C felony of forgery by Stoddard County Prosecuting Attorney Russ Oliver.
In issuing the warrant for Geuin's arrest, Associate Circuit Judge Joe Satterfield set the man's bond at $50,000 cash. Geuin had not been arrested by press time.
The complaint on file with the court alleges on about April 1, 2012, Geuin appropriated $65,359.02 from the First Pentecostal Church of Dexter.
The complaint further alleges on about April 12, 2012, Geuin forged a document from the church's board of directors giving him the "authority and power" to conduct business on the church's behalf.
The charges stem from an investigation by the Dexter Police Department, which began Oct. 2 when an officer took an "embezzlement complaint" about the church, which is located in the 12200 block of North One Mile Road, according to police Detective Trevor Pulley's probable-cause statement.
Later that day, Pulley said, he spoke with church board members, who reported "their ex-pastor, Marcus Geuin, stole a large amount of money from the church, and when he left the church, there was nothing left in bank accounts and none of the bills paid."
Pulley said he was told board members "let" Geuin resign on May 5, 2013.
"(One board member) advised he discovered the theft when Marcus was removing $500 at a time using his ATM card," Pulley said. "Marcus did not give an explanation why."
Once that board member began reviewing the bank records, he found the money missing, and the unpaid bills, Pulley said.
"(He) advised on May 6, 2013, ... Marcus made an ATM withdrawal of $140 from the account, which left $2.34 in the account," Pulley said. The withdrawal allegedly was made after Geuin had resigned.
Pulley said the board member also reported noticing Geuin "was withdrawing $500 (ATM) several times a day out of the tithing account, and Marcus didn't say what it was for."
In April 2012, the Southern Bank account was to be closed by Geuin, but it allegedly was not, Pulley said.
"(The board member) advised the Southern Bank account was supposed to be closed after May 2012 and no funds routed through the account," Pulley said.
The board member further reported "all the church's funds (were) deposited in U.S. Bank, so the money could be tracked," Pulley said.
From April 2012 to September 2012, Pulley said, Geuin allegedly received $65,359.02 in cash from Southern Bank.
The board member, Pulley said, also reported items, including church records and computers, were stolen from the church.
"Subpoenaed bank records indicated between January 2012 to September 2012, Marcus received $112,304.55 in cash (from cash withdrawals at the bank) and wire (transfers) to his personal account at Southern Bank in Dexter," Pulley said.
When the alleged fraud was discovered by the church, "there was very little money in any of the bank accounts, and the church bills had not been paid, which included insurance, utilities, (and a) Wal-Mart credit card the board was unaware of," Pulley said.
One of the documents presented to U.S. Bank has four signatures on it, Pulley said. "Interviews revealed two of the church board members signatures were forged," he said.
The letter dated April 2, 2012, and on church letter head, said it was being written in reference to a church business meeting "concerning the authorization of Lead Pastor Marcus Geuin to have the power to transact and conduct business in name of said assembly.
"This meeting was conducted on April 16, 2012, with Senior Pastor Joseph Geuin and said board members, Clarence Smith, Michael Whitley, in attendance and authorization."
The authorization "entails, but is not limited to banking transactions, as well as, day-to-day operations of the said assembly," the letter said.
Allegedly signing the document were Joseph Geuin, Marcus Geuin, Smith and Whitley.
Pulley did not interview Geuin as part of the investigation due to him having an attorney.