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Written by: E. George
Published February 8, 2024 @ 11:40 AM ET
GORDON COUNTY, Ga. – Calhoun Police officers arrested a married couple on January 31, 2024, for stealing over $210K from Belmont Baptist Church. Melanie Ann Temple and Chad Lamar Temple each face over 300 charges, most related to credit card fraud.
As a church employee, Melanie gained access to their credit cards. From 2019 to 2022, she and her husband utilized the cards to make copious personal purchases, and officials explained that they charged them for each purchase.
Calhoun Police Chief Tony Pyle stated that his office received a telephone call regarding the crimes following a forensic audit at the church. A year-and-a-half-long investigation concluded that the Temples had spent a total of $212,000.
Chief Pyle said, “It started out small, and it wasn’t discovered, then another charge and another charge, then a little bigger and a little more frequent.” He expressed, “It’s shocking to me that someone would steal from a church to begin with.”
FOX 5 traveled to the couple’s listed address and knocked on the door, but no one answered. The home included a fenced-in area that contained young dogs.
People familiar with the family disclosed that they breed canines. Chief Pyle stated, “A lot of dog or animal products from one of the online distributors, numerous things, personal things from Amazon and other retail places” were purchased.
Melanie faces 60 counts of criminal receipt of goods, 138 counts of criminal receipt of goods or services fraudulently obtained, 198 counts of financial transaction card fraud, financial transaction card theft, and felony theft by deception.
Chad faces 198 counts of criminal receipt of goods or services fraudulently obtained, 198 counts of financial transaction card fraud, financial transaction card theft, felony theft by deception, and probation violation (sale of meth).
Melanie bonded out of jail; however, Chad remained in custody. This case is pending in court.
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