A church trustee who admitted to using the church’s credit card for personal expenses has been sentenced following his arrest this past October.
Allan Richard Barber, 61, of Summerfield, had served for about two years as a trustee at Starting Point Church on SE Hwy. 42 in Summerfield. Over several months he used the church’s Lowe’s credit card to purchase $3,000 in VISA gift cards and lawn equipment, according to an arrest report from the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office. The church’s administrator discovered the charges and confronted Barber on Oct. 12. Barber admitted the charges were for his personal use. In an interview with a deputy at the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office Annex, Barber admitted he obtained the gift cards to buy groceries and pay bills. He said he had money problems.
On Feb. 13 in Sumter County Court, Barber entered pleas of no contest to charges of grand theft and fraud.
He was sentenced to three years probation and ordered to perform 288 hours of community service.
