A Monroe County man has been charged with theft for making fraudulent purchases on an Effort church account.

Henry McCormick, 54, of Effort, faces charges of theft by unlawful taking or disposition, theft by deception and receiving stolen property.

According to the affidavit of probable cause filed by Trooper Matthew Kizis of the Pennsylvania State Police:

At 1:28 p.m. Kizis was dispatched to the Effort United Methodist Church at 178 Merwinsburg Road, Chestnuthill Township, for a report of a theft.

Kizis interviewed the Effort United Methodist Church administrative assistant, who said she received a call from staff at Kinsley’s ShopRite of Brodheadsville stating the church has a past balance due of about $30,000 on its account.

She said the church should not have a balance of that amount, and that McCormick, the director of supplemental food resource center, makes all the food purchases at Kinsley’s ShopRite.

According to a store official, McCormick was arriving at the store and purchasing Visa gift cards on the Effort United Methodist Church account.

Surveillance footage shows McCormick making several of these fraudulent purchases.

Kizis was able to identify McCormick, who matched the description of the man on the surveillance footage.

McCormick admitted purchasing gift cards on the church account.

McCormick admitted using some of the Visa gift cards for his personal use, and said that he couldn’t show proof that the gift cards were used for making purchases for the church.

McCormick was not authorized to make any gift card purchases on the church account.

The total amount stolen from the Effort United Methodist Church is $27,359.

McCormick is scheduled to have a preliminary hearing at 10 a.m. June 1 before District Judge Colleen Mancuso of Brodheadsville.