Calif. Woman Sentenced for Grand Theft From Church

A woman in Orange County, California has been sentenced to five years in prison for stealing more than $200,000 in church donations.

According to the sheriff's department, 38-year-old Crystina Renee Bock worked part-time as the financial secretary for Compass Bible Church. Police say she stole cash and checks and would have some checks made out to "CBC," the initials of the church. Because those initials are close to her own initials, Bock was able to cash the checks into her own bank account.

Police were alerted when someone noticed a discrepancy with one of the checks. At this time, it has not been reported whether or not that someone was affiliated with the church or the bank, if at all.

In February, Bock pleaded guilty to 62 counts of grand theft.

It's to your advantage to contact an experienced criminal defense attorney if either you or a loved one has been arrested on grand theft charges. As a felony offense, grand theft carries heavy penalties. Depending on the value of the stolen goods, you could face years in state or federal prison, as well as restitution to the victim, probation, large fines, and more. The last thing you want or need is to have a criminal conviction of any kind on your permanent record.  A skilled criminal lawyer can see to it that you are provided with an aggressive defense, and that your rights and best interests are protected from the beginning of your case until the very end.

If you are looking for an attorney in your area who offers defense services against theft crimes, click here to search for a criminal defense lawyer near you!