COLORADO SPRINGS — A pastor accused of using hundreds of thousands of dollars from a church he led appeared in court Wednesday to face theft charges from a grand jury indictment.
Authorities say the Rev. Donald Armstrong may have taken as much as $392,000 from Grace Episcopal Church and St. Stephen’s Parish and a trust fund.
The indictment contends he used some of the money to pay for the college education of his two children. The indictment alleges the thefts occurred from 1999 to 2006.
Armstrong headed the congregation before he and his followers broke away in 2007 to affiliate with the Convocation of Anglicans in North America after the allegations against him surfaced.
He has denied wrongdoing.
A judge scheduled Armstrong’s next hearing for July 22. Armstrong’s attorney says that will give the judge time to review transcripts from the grand jury. The Gazette
