Couple agrees to pay $128K stolen from church

A Union County couple pleaded guilty last month to charges of theft of property valued at over $25,000 after allegedly stealing more than $100,000 from their church over a number of years.

Elizabeth N. Hughes and Robert M. Hughes, both 58 and from El Dorado, were each sentenced to 20 years probation on July 18 and ordered to pay $128,000 in restitution to Northwest Baptist Church.

In October, the church’s pastor reported a theft he’d discovered with the church’s former treasurer to the Union County Sheriff’s Office.

At a business meeting, records discussed indicated that the pastor had received six checks from the church, but he did not, so he and the former treasurer, who still was listed on the church’s bank account, went to the bank to investigate what they assumed to be an error, according to court records.

The bank confirmed that it was an error, but revealed the church’s balance to be just over $2,000 — $10,000 short of what the church’s then-current treasurer, Elizabeth, or Libby, Hughes had reported the balance to be at a recent church business meeting, documents say.

An August bank statement further showed several cash withdrawals, which were signed for by Robert Hughes, associate pastor of the church and Libby Hughes’ husband, court records say.

Church employees confronted Robert Hughes, according to court records, who reportedly said he took $950 to pay his wife’s car note the previous month.

Bank statements revealed thefts dating back through March, 2015; financial statements provided to the pastor by Libby Hughes in her capacity as treasurer showed discrepancies between the bank account and her account, court records say.

The couple was charged in November 2018. Both pleaded not guilty in March. The church determined a total of $132,323.75 had been lost to them as a result of the thefts.

The Hughes both made plea agreements last month, each pleading guilty to the charge of theft of property. They will pay the restitution as a couple, with the debt to be paid off in approximately 20 years.

Caitlan Butler can be reached at 870-862-6611 or [email protected].

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