A Saline County youth pastor, school staff member, and church camp treasurer is suspected of embezzling over $23,000 from that church camp, according to documents from the Bryant Police Department.
On March 19, 2024, Bryant officers began to investigate Phillip Batchelor, age 45, of Benton, on allegations of embezzlement. The police report states that the allegations were filed with the Saline County Prosecuting Attorney first. That office forwarded the case to Bryant PD.
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Staff at the National Camp at Bogg Springs, a church organization out of Wickes, Arkansas, contends that Batchelor, had been embezzling money from the Camp bank account over the last two years. Batchelor was the camp treasurer who had access to the National Camp bank funds.
Four representatives of National Camp brought the allegations. They are Dennis Blackerby, Camp Pastor; Steven Shane Harrington, Camp Registrar; Matt Terry, Appointed Camp Treasurer; and Doug Curtis, Bogg Springs Representative (no relation to Saline County Clerk by the same name).
The group alleges $23,790.76 was stolen. The investigation notes state that part of the money appears to have been spent in Saline County. Approximately eleven other purchases may or may not have been outside Saline County, according to allegations.
Batchelor is also a para professional at Harmony Grove Junior High School and a youth pastor at Park Place Baptist Church in Bryant. He was arrested by Bryant Police officers on Monday morning, April 29, 2024. He was booked at the Saline County Jail at 8:15 a.m. and at this time, bond has not been set.
Watch MySaline.com for updates.