Financial director of Colorado Springs church facing almost 900 counts of financial crimes
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- In October of 2022, the El Paso County Sheriff's Office (EPCSO) received a report that an employee at Pikes Peak Christian Church was committing fraud, theft, and other related offenses in her capacity as the financial director of the church.
The EPCSO said detectives spent hundreds of hours over the next six months analyzing financial documents and correlating evidence in the case. The detectives discovered between March 2018 and July 2022, the suspect, identified as Sara Ann Mock-Butler, had stolen, defrauded, and forged documents resulting in the loss of a large quantity of money from Pikes Peak Christian Church, according to the sheriff's office.
On May 31, 2023, the EPCSO secured an arrest warrant for Mock-Butler for 896 Counts of financial-related crimes. She turned herself in but walked out the same day after posting her $10,000 bond.
According to the EPCSO, the crimes Sara Ann Mock-Butler is facing are as follows:
• Theft-F3- 1 count (aggregated)
• Cyber Crime-F3- 1 count (aggregated)
• Money Laundering-F3- 296 counts
• Identity Theft- F4- 527 counts
• Forgery- F5- 61 counts
• Tax Evasion- F5- 6 counts
• Filing a False Tax Return- F5- 5 counts
Mock-Butler doesn't have any other criminal charges in Colorado. Her attorney declined to comment about the investigation.
The El Paso County Sheriff's Office declined to comment when 13 Investigates asked if any other member of the church is believed to be involved. EPCSO said it can't talk about an active case.
The lead pastor at the church, Rick Frisbie, said the "church body was shocked and saddened to hear this news" and is seeking restitution for the stolen funds.
"Our congregation has been aware of the misappropriation of funds. The church body was shocked and sadden to hear this news, but they have responded in amazingly generous ways. The staff and congregation has made sacrifices to keep ministry going, and we are so appreciative of that. Our hope and prayer is for both restoration and restitution. We are very grateful for the hard work and integrity of the detective who is working on our case. We have also engaged with legal counsel since discovering the misappropriated funds, and we will continue to seek their guidance in how to move forward in accordance with the law and our desire for justice."
Rick Frisbie, Pikes Peak Christian Church Lead Pastor
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