By John Carlin
WSLS10 Anchor
Published: April 7, 2008

A Roanoke County woman is facing charges that she embezzled from the Catawba United Methodist Church.

According to Roanoke County Police, Lola Rowe embezzled close to 50-thousand dollars between 2003 and 2006.

Police say they began investigating when members of the church noticed money was missing.

Police tell WSLS-10 that Rowe was the treasurer of the church.

They have a thick case file as part of this investigation that shows she was able to take the money without getting caught. 

Sgt Mike Poindexter is investigating the case.  He believes the church needed a system of checks and balances.  “We found that the church treasurer had the checkbook and the spreadsheets and she pretty much—there were no checks and balances and she was able to embezzle money from the church,” he said. 

WSLS-10 searched the records and discovered that Rowe has a prior record of embezzlement. 

She pled guilty to embezzlement In January of 1992 and was sentenced to five years in prison with all but 30 days suspended.