In case you missed it, a federal judge sentenced Barry R. Herr of Lancaster to 2.5 years in prison Nov. 21 for embezzling more than $1 million from the Lower Susquehanna Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
Herr, who pleaded guilty to the federal charges in June, faced a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison and a $2.2 million fine. Prosecutors were seeking a sentence of 41 to 51 months in prison. An excerpt from our story:
Before the sentence was handed down Friday, a remorseful Herr took full responsibility for his "poor judgment." He said he felt a "deep sense of humiliation and contrition to those whom I have betrayed. . . . More than money, I have robbed them of their belief and confidence in me."
In court, synod Bishop B. Penrose Hoover read from a written statement. The judge also sentenced Herr to two years of supervised probation and restitution of $799,998 to the synod's insurance company, Brotherhood Mutual. Herr has repaid $309,000, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
The synod's Web site has a few more details about the sentencing here and here.
What do local Lutherans think? Are you pleased with the sentencing?
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