By Alex Benzegala
Panhandle Post
A pastor from Mitchell was arrested after Scottsbluff Police were informed that there may be stealing money from a church.
On Saturday, Nov. 18, Scottsbluff Police were dispatched to the United Methodist Church in Scottsbluff, where an employee informed officers that there was an Associate Pastor who appeared to be stealing money from the parish.
A press release from Scottsbluff Police says that officers were provided with bank statements showing numerous unauthorized ATM withdraws, from the Mitchell Methodist Church account, totaling more than $8,000.
Police determined that the only person who had access to the debit card was 42-year-old Pastor Joseph Schumacher Jr, of Mitchell.
It was also determined that Mitchell Methodist Church had written Pastor Joseph Schumacher Jr. a check for more than $4,000 to attend schooling which was not done. However, the check had been cashed.
The total amount of money that was taken by Schumacher Jr. is at least $12,000.
On Wednesday November 22, Schumacher Jr. was arrested for Unauthorized Use of a Financial Transaction Device more than $5,000 a Class IIA Felony and Theft by Deception more than $1,500 Less than $5,000 a Class IV Felony.