(CBS 13) RIPON A congregation has lost faith in their pastor, after he sold their church without telling them, and scammed them out of more than half of a million dollars.
A for sale sign never went up in front of the First Congregational Church in Ripon. Local police say the pastor peddled it on the sly and was spending the proceeds on big ticket items. It's no doubt an understatement to say church members are shocked.
"It came out of nowhere, we didn't have a clue", says Church Leader David Prater.
Church members didn't have a clue that their church, which has stood on the corner of Main and Acacia streets in Ripon for over 50 years had been sold. Police say the church pastor sold the church and a small cottage next to it for $525,000 dollars and pocketed the money. Church Council president David Prater said the news left them stunned.
"We were devastated, we didn't know how to explain it to anyone. People were hurt. People were crying", says Prater.
Sergeant Ed Ormonde said pastor Randy Radic put the money in a special account and started spending.
"There was approximately $460,000 that was deposited in the account. Then over a period of about two weeks almost half of the money was deposited into other accounts or withdrawn in cash.", says Ormonde.
$102,000 dollars went for a 2006 BMW, which police have seized, along with about $350,000 in cash. Ormonde says the bank account and transactions made bankers suspicious and they contacted church leaders. The 52-year-old Radic faces felony counts of embezzlement and forgery. And the church's small congregation still can't believe it.
"He was a very good teacher and a good preacher", says Prater.
Prater says visiting pastors are helping them with Sunday services now. Soon they'll be looking for a new permanent pastor. They do have to sort out their finances first But they've hired an attorney to help.