Elizabethton Church Treasurer and Daughter Plead Guilty to Theft Charges

Plea Agreement Sees Nave and Evans Accept Probation for Charges

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Elizabethton, TN: In a shocking revelation, the treasurer of First Freewill Baptist Church in Elizabethton and his daughter have pleaded guilty to theft charges in a court proceeding held on Tuesday, May 7, 2024. According to the local sources, the treasurer, Kenneth Nave, and his daughter Conner Evans reached a plea agreement before Judge Stacy Street in Carter County Criminal Court. As part of the plea agreement, Nave pleaded guilty to a charge of theft over $60,000 while his daughter Evans pleaded to a charge of theft over $10,000.

Plea Agreement Terms

As a direct consequence of the plea agreements, Nave has been sentenced to serve eight years on probation while his daughter Evans will face a three-year probation period. In addition, a restitution hearing has been scheduled for September 4, at 1 p.m.

Details of the Case: Charges and Irregularities in Bank Statements

The two individuals in question were presented before a grand jury on Monday, following which presentments were filed against them. Nave was originally facing much heavier penalties, being charged with theft over $250,000 and theft over $60,000, along with conspiracy charges. Evans was also originally charged with theft over $60,000 and conspiracy. The plea deal reached between their attorney and the district attorney’s office led to the reduced charges.

Assistant District Attorney Dennis Brooks stated that leaders from the First Freewill Baptist Church discovered last year that there were glaring irregularities in the church’s bank account. The matter was brought to the attention of the Elizabethton Police Department, who referred the case to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation for further examination.

Extent of Financial Misappropriations

According to Brooks, an estimated $310,000 was misappropriated from the church’s account in personal purchases between 2018 and 2023. Nave and Evans admitted to these charges, implicating misuse of the church’s bank card and checkbook. Brooks indicated that Nave and Evans substantially used the church’s funds to make various personal purchases, including items on Amazon, DoorDash, as well as financing a jewelry business and a wedding.

Emotional Courtroom Apologies and Forgiveness

Both Nave and Evans expressed deep regret and remorse for their actions before the court. Church trustee Michael Peters extended forgiveness to them, signifying the church’s fundamental tenets of love and compassion. “We forgive them,” Peters told the court. “We still love them.”

The Final Word from the Judge

Judge Stacy Street, who conducted Tuesday’s proceedings, reiterated the necessity of conducting trials within the impartial premises of a courtroom and not judging individuals based on public sentiment. He declared, “We try to find the truth.” Street expressed his agreement to oversee the proceeding as the plea agreement was reached without any input from him. The restitution hearing in September will be conducted by a state-appointed judge to avoid any conflict of interest.