Carbondale minister charged with felony theft
CARBONDALE, Ill. — A southern Illinois minister is facing charges after authorities say he stole more than $100,000 from a Carbondale church.
Thirty-two-year-old Joshua D. Swain was charged Friday with two felonies for theft and aggravated identity theft.
The Cobden man is scheduled to make an initial appearance in Jackson County court on Tuesday afternoon.
Prosecutors say Swain stole the money from The View Church and also used the name of a congregation member to obtain more than $10,000 from a bank.
Church officials told WSIL-TV that Swain no longer works for the church, which was once called First Baptist Church.
The Southern Illinois reports the congregation traces its roots in the region to 1861 and has hundreds of members around the area.
No telephone listing for Swain could be located.