Pastor James Blaine Pleads Guilty To Embezzlement Charges

Ohio: Former Greenfield pastor James Blaine may face up to 6 years in prison and $250,000 in restitution payments after he pleaded guilty to embezzling thousands from his church.

Blaine, 61, was indicted on 17 counts related to allegations that he stole more than $100,000 from the Good Shepherd Church near Greenfield. He pleaded guilty on two charges Wednesday in Highland County Common Pleas Court.

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The maximum sentence for the first count is 12 months and the maximum sentence for the second count is 5 years. The state dropped the remaining 15 counts and recommended a prison sentence of three years and eight months.