Staff Writer

The money was to help others. It was set aside from donations to pay the expenses of the church and to help with activities and projects. Now the man overseeing the dollars and cents is spending time in Upson County Jail.

Tommy Roy Dennis, 54, of Fourth Avenue, who served as treasurer for Silvertown Baptist Church, is facing the felony charge of theft by taking.

According to investigators with the Thomaston Police Department, Dennis wrote a check to himself for $625 for his own personal use on March 28.

Reportedly, Dennis has written over 30 checks to himself on the church account totalling thousands of dollars. Investigators could not give an exact amount but said Dennis could be charged for each individual check.

A search warrant was executed last Friday at Dennis's home, where a computer, laptop and church records were seized. Investigators say they are going to look as far back as January 2000 in the case. They would look further, but the statute of limitations allows them to go back only seven years.

Investigators said Dennis could face additional charges of theft by taking, forgery and fraud.

Dennis was arrested Monday afternoon and is in jail without bond. It is not known if Dennis held any other employment besides working at the church. At one time he worked at Martha Mills. Investigators said it is a possibility he was using the church's account to live on.

Silvertown Baptist Church representatives did not wish to comment on the case.