NewsLine staff
A trial date has been set for April 2026 for Melissa Ganey English, the former financial secretary of Amelia Baptist Church who is facing felony charges for allegedly embezzling more than $570,000 from the church over several years.
The trial date was set during a recent pretrial hearing. English, 44, who is charged with grand theft over $100,000, was accused of systematically taking church funds from 2019 to 2024. The jury selection for the trial is scheduled to begin on April 10, 2026.
According to investigators, who provided details to local news media, English, who served as the church’s financial secretary for approximately 11 years, used the church’s credit card and payroll access to make extensive personal purchases, including expenses for travel, hotels, Amazon orders, and amusement park tickets.
The theft was uncovered when new financial committee members noticed discrepancies and low balances in bank accounts, triggering a full review of church records.
Pastor Forrest Jones issued a statement emphasizing the church’s commitment to its mission following the disclosure. The next scheduled court appearance for English is set for Jan. 13, 2026, as confirmed by court records.
