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	Mother and Daughter Charged with Stealing from Their Church Pine Bluff Commercial April 6, 2007 http://www.pbcommercial.com/articles/2007/04/05/ap-state-ar/d8ob13g06.txt El Dorado, Ark. - A mother and her daughter are out on bond after their arrests on felony theft charges following a months-long investigation of the finances of the church the pair attended and worked for. Carol Ann Thompson, 61, a former financial secretary with First United Methodist Church, and her daughter Wendy Thompson Morgan, 37, are accused of stealing thousands of dollars from the church where Morgan had once worked in the daycare center. Police Capt. David Smith said Thompson agreed to surrender to authorities Thursday after a warrant for her arrest was issued. She arrived along with her lawyer, Eugene Bramlett of Camden, to face a charge of theft of property greater than $2,500. Investigators said Thompson was calm and rational after her booking at the El Dorado Police Department. Her daughter, accused of using a credit card belonging to the church, was arrested on a separate warrant Wednesday when an El Dorado police officer stopped her on a traffic violation. Both were released after posting signature bonds, set at $10,000 each. Jim Polk, pastor of First United Methodist Church, said an internal procedures audit revealed sizable problems with church finances last fall. Polk was reluctant to specify how much may have been stolen, but those with close ties to the 173-year-old church say the figure could reach beyond $100,000. "We feel like it's a significant amount, going back several years," Polk said. Thompson was employed by the church for 12 or 13 years, he said. Police were alerted after the church audit in February. Smith said charges had to wait on review of records and accounts relevant to the case. Smith also expressed concern that the statute of limitations might limit how far back the prosecution is able to pursue the charges. Prosecutor Robin Carroll said he is working on the next step, filing of charges in circuit court, followed by an arraignment.
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