fraud investigation Arthur Pearson Grand Rapids Pastor

“A Grand Rapids pastor was in court today for a hearing to determine if there is enough evidence to send him to trial. Arthur Pearson is pastor of Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church on the southeast side of Grand Rapids.

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Pearson is facing allegations that he stole between $50,000 and $100,000 by using church bank accounts and credit cards for things like personal license plate renewals, gym memberships, and clothing. The allegations go back three years, when he first became pastor.

The chairman of the church Board of Trustees at the time of the allegations, Stephon Blackwell, testified about the moments when church leaders first became suspicious of Pearson. He said that in 2010 Pearson told the board that he gave himself a $5,000 raise.

“He told me that he got it handled,” said Blackwell.

Blackwell said he and the head deacon, Nathan Mayfield, had communication problems with Pearson and in 2011 demanded Pearson’s financial records, including church credit card and bank statements.

“He basically said as the pastor he has the authority,” said Mayfield. “And there are some things he’ll bring to the board and some things he won’t.”

Eventually Blackwell said they planned to tell the entire congregation about the situation. He said Pearson took Blackwell and the deacon aside and pleaded with them.

“He asked if we could just forget about that, forget about the 5,000,” said Blackwell. “We said we couldn’t just forget about that.”

Blackwell testified that he began to proceed with an audit against Pearson’s will. But he said when he went to the bank to get access to the records, the head of the Board of Trustees was not allowed. He said Pearson later told him he was being relieved of his duties.

Church members still pressed forward with an audit. They hired Plante Moran who found a series of purchases that they suggested seemed unusual for a church leader. Blackwell said a group of church leaders also took records to the Grand Rapids Police.

Pearson’s attorney argued that the pastor’s contract is vague regarding what he can and cannot spend church money on.

“Where in the contract does it say that the board has to vote on the salary annually of the pastor?” Asked Allen Wolf.

“It doesn’t say that,” said Blackwell.

A civil hearing last month decided that Pearson could return to the church, but could not be allowed in financial operations.

The preliminary hearing was postponed last month when Assistant Prosecutor Robin Esslinger was scheduled to be in court on another matter.

The hearing will continue on February 13th.”

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