GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.-Former Pastor Arthur Pearson of Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church and the church’s former bookkeeper, Gerolanita Bailey, will only serve probation and restitution after they’re accused of stealing thousands of dollars from the church. The embezzlement was discovered last year and Pearson was fired in July 2012.
The church is accusing the Pastor of stealing $167,000 by using the church’s credit cards and bank accounts to support his lavish lifestyle, which included clothes, a gym membership, and payments on his mortgage. The Pastor pleaded no contest to the charge back in January.
Each will serve four years of probation and have to pay back the church. Pastor Pearson agreed in court to start a payment plan of $1,000 a month. There are civil suits pending against the duo but those of yet to be settled.
