$60K church theft sparks arrest

RANTOUL — A Rantoul man was arrested Monday on a warrant in connection to the theft of $60,000 when he was treasurer of the Rantoul Presbyterian Church.

Edward Thomas Fisher, 58, Rantoul, was arrested Monday morning on a Franklin County warrant for felony theft, according to a report from the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office.

An offense report from the sheriff’s department said the theft was reported Oct. 6 and allegedly occurred between February of 1997 and Sept. 15, 2008. A total of $60,000 in U.S. currency was stolen, the report said.

The primary victim was the Rantoul Presbyterian Church, 219 S. Cedar St.

“It’s hard to believe,” Harry Peckham, a member of the church’s session, its governing body, said this morning.

Peckham said reactions to the situation were mixed.

“We’re watching our expenses a lot closer now that we don’t have that cushion,” he said.

Franklin County Sheriff Craig Davis said the case was investigated and forwarded to the county attorney’s office, which requested the warrant be issued.

No criminal charges have been filed against Fisher.

Davis said at the time of the investigation, Fisher was the church’s treasurer. Peckham said Fisher had been treasurer for at least 10 years.

Rantoul Presbyterian Church has about 28 members and similar attendance numbers, Peckham said.

Herald staff writer Jodie Garcia can be e-mailed at jgarcia@ottawaherald.com.