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WILKES-BARRE — A couple who served as secretary and board president of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Kingston must pay back more than $174,000 they were accused of pilfering from the church after pleading guilty Wednesday to felony theft charges.

The church’s pastor, meanwhile, said the congregation faces an uphill battle to dig themselves out of the financial peril the former employees’ left in their wake.

Keith White, 52, and his wife, Cherie White, 45, were charged in October with embezzling the funds after they admitted they spent them for their own personal use.

The Kingston couple cut themselves extra paychecks, stole money from the collection plate, and racked up thousands of dollars in purchases using a church-issued debit card at restaurants and retailers, police say.

Former board president Keith White pleaded guilty to one felony count each of conspiracy to commit theft and device fraud, while his wife, the one-time secretary, pleaded guilty to one felony count each of theft by unlawful taking and access device fraud. The plea deal struck in the case calls for the couple to pay $174,482 in restitution.

While the Rev. Paul Metzloff was pleased to see the couple admit their guilt, he and other members of the congregation aren’t expecting to see the church made whole again anytime soon.

“As far as I know they blew it as fast as they stole it, so I’m not planning on seeing a significant amount of that restitution anytime soon,” Metzloff said.

Outlined in charging documents are dozens of purchases investigators flagged as questionable or partially unlawful dating back to 2009, including several thousand dollars worth of transactions at local grocery stores, retailers, and fast food restaurants, as well as $18,485 in cash withdrawals and $2,168 taken from church offerings.

Though the church is still reeling from the thefts, the crime inspired the congregation to come together and work harder toward bettering their community, Metzloff said.

“This is a bad thing that has happened,” he said. “We’re working on recovering from it.”

Luzerne County Judge David W. Lupas accepted the couple’s pleas and set sentencing for July 6.

Both were permitted to apply for the county’s Intermediate Punishment Program.

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Keith and Cherie White arrive for arraignment in October on charges they stole more than $174,000 from the Kingston church where they worked. The couple pleaded guilty Wednesday and was ordered to repay the church.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/web1_whites-1.jpg.optimal.jpgKeith and Cherie White arrive for arraignment in October on charges they stole more than $174,000 from the Kingston church where they worked. The couple pleaded guilty Wednesday and was ordered to repay the church. Times Leader file

By Joe Dolinsky

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Reach Joe Dolinsky at 570-991-6110 or on Twitter @JoeDolinskyTL