Osbourne (Photo: Lance Wheeler)
HUDSON – A former minister of the Bible Baptist Church in Ghent is charged with grand larceny for stealing tens of thousands of dollars from the house of worship.
James Osbourne, 55, who now lives in Gransville, appeared in Columbia County Court on Thursday. An indictment said he stole the money between 2010 and 2014.
District Attorney Paul Czajka said Osbourne allegedly used the money to pay off credit cards and for other expenses.
Church members believe he may have stolen as much as $70,000 or more. It was church members who discovered the missing funds and turned the investigation over to the DA and State Police.
Osbourne is in the Columbia County Jail without bail.
