Church Leaders Cite 'Disgruntled Former Members' For Theft Allegations Against Northport Pastor

NORTHPORT, AL — Leaders of The Word Community Church are standing behind Senior Pastor Scott Willmore following his recent indictment for felony theft.

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In a statement provided to Patch on behalf of the church's elder board, Dale Lester said church leaders have conducted their own review of the allegations and found no evidence of wrongdoing by the embattled pastor.

As Patch previously reported, Willmore turned himself in at the Tuscaloosa County Jail Monday after being indicted by a grand jury last week on the lone count of felony theft.

A TCSO spokesperson told Patch Monday that following a thorough investigation that involved interviews with individuals and a detailed look at church finances, the evidence was presented to a grand jury.

Details surrounding the charge, including the amount of money allegedly involved and the specific circumstances that led to the indictment, have not been released as of the publication of this story.

Willmore was released from the Tuscaloosa County Jail after his bond was set at $30,000.

"As the Elders at The Word Community Church we would like it to be known that the church is not the one that is pursuing the matter that is being published in the news media," the statement said. "The Elder Board of the church has been aware of the investigation, and have conducted our own investigation into the allegations that former disgruntled members of the church have accused our pastor of."

Lester went on to say that the church's own internal investigation did not surface any discrepancies involving Willmore and church funds.

"The current Elder Board with the current Finance committee have not found any wrong doing of our pastor and we stand behind him," the Elder Board said. "These charges are being brought by disgruntled former members of the church, and he is being falsely accused. We want the public to know our side of these allegations."

As Patch previously reported, Willmore's indictment comes on the heels of a separate controversy after the church voluntarily closed its daycare in the wake of allegations of abuse.

No criminal charges have been announced in the investigation relating to the day care.

It also does not appear that the day care closure was related in any way to the theft case.

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