Former pastor pleads guilty to embezzling from church

The former pastor of Broadmoor Baptist Church has been sentenced to prison after pleading guilty to embezzlement, Madison County court officials said. James Riley Brown is accused of stealing $332,000 from the church to pay his mortgage between February 2014 and August 2017. The Southern Baptist congregation in Madison is among the largest in the state.Documents show Brown transferred church funds into his personal bank account, including one transaction of nearly $36,000.Brown was sentenced to 15 years in prison, with 10 years suspended and five years to serve, court officials said. He was also sentenced to serve five years' probation once he's released.Church members initially said they wouldn't press charges, but the Madison County district attorney's office carried out its own investigation. Brown served as executive pastor of the church from 2014 to 2017, when an audit exposed the missing money. Brown said in 2017 that he was innocent of any theft and signed a civil settlement with the church.

The former pastor of Broadmoor Baptist Church has been sentenced to prison after pleading guilty to embezzlement, Madison County court officials said.

James Riley Brown is accused of stealing $332,000 from the church to pay his mortgage between February 2014 and August 2017. The Southern Baptist congregation in Madison is among the largest in the state.


Documents show Brown transferred church funds into his personal bank account, including one transaction of nearly $36,000.

Brown was sentenced to 15 years in prison, with 10 years suspended and five years to serve, court officials said. He was also sentenced to serve five years' probation once he's released.

Church members initially said they wouldn't press charges, but the Madison County district attorney's office carried out its own investigation.

Brown served as executive pastor of the church from 2014 to 2017, when an audit exposed the missing money.

Brown said in 2017 that he was innocent of any theft and signed a civil settlement with the church.