Va. pastor sentenced for stealing more than $200K

[July 28, 2009]  VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (AP) -- A Virginia Beach pastor will spend 10 months behind bars for stealing more than $200,000 from his former church and its insurance company.

Kenneth L. Montgomery was sentenced Monday to 10 years in prison, with all but 10 months suspended.

Montgomery pleaded guilty in January. He said he got blank checks from Hilltop Community Church and deposited the funds into his personal bank account between 2004 and 2006. He also filed false insurance claims alleging the church had been burglarized, then kept the payments.

Montgomery also was convicted in 1994 for grand theft and burglary.

Montgomery wiped away tears as he apologized in court.

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Information from: The Virginian-Pilot, http://www.pilotonline.com/

[Associated Press]

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