More than $3,000 was stolen from St. Phillip & St. James Church in Phillipsburg.
A maintenance worker at a Phillipsburg church is accused of stealing more than $3,000 by forging the pastor's name on checks.
Robert Cummings, of the 300 block of Chambers Street in town, faces three counts each of forgery and theft after writing himself three checks from St. Philip & St. James Church, according to an indictment by a Warren County grand jury.
All three checks -- totaling $3,250 -- were written Oct. 6 under the forged name of Father John Barbella, the indictment says.
Warren County Prosecutor Richard Burke said the church quickly discovered the fraudulent checks and called town police. Cummings confessed and said he had a drug habit, Burke said.
Fugitives of the week Nov. 26, 2016
Each count carries a potential sentence of three to five years in state prison.
A current phone number for Cummings could not be found. Father Barbella deferred any comment to law enforcement.
Steve Novak may be reached at snovak@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @type2supernovak and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.