A Culpeper pastor faces a possible 310-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to felony fraud charges.

Date published: 6/24/2008

BY DONNIE JOHNSTON

A Culpeper pastor faces a possible 310-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to felony fraud charges.

The Rev. Charles Shifflett, pastor of First Baptist Church in Culpeper and former pastor of Calvary Baptist Church there, pleaded guilty to a total of 20 felonies and one misdemeanor, prosecutors announced today.

Nine of the charges involving obtaining money by false pretenses from Calvary Baptist Church from 2002-05, while Shifflett was the pastor.

He also pleaded guilty to three counts of fraud involving a workers compensation award, and five counts of obtaining money under false pretenses from two separate insurance companies, and three counts of filing false state tax returns.

In exchange for Shifflett’s plea, prosecutors dismissed 19 felony charges against his wife, Janice Shifflett.

Charles Shifflett will be held pending sentencing. Commonwealth’s Attorney Gary Close said he would decide how severe a sentence to request after consulting with the victims.

For more on this story, read Wednesday’s Free Lance–Star.

Donnie Johnston:
djohnston@freelancestar.com

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Date published: 6/24/2008