Tulsa Pastor Pleads Not Guilty To Embezzlement Charges

A Tulsa pastor pleads not guilty to accusations he embezzled nearly a million dollars.

Reverend Willard Jones of Cornerstone Baptist Church is accused of stealing from a community center his church helped build.

Jones made his first appearance in court Friday. He told the judge he understands the charges against him but he couldn't afford to hire a private attorney.

8/13/2014 Related Story: Tulsa Pastor Indicted For Embezzling More Than $900,000

Jones didn't address the media Friday but during a 2011 groundbreaking he gave News On 6 a tour of the Cornerstone Development Community project.

"We built it to suit the needs the people had out here, as you can see we can do performances in here,” Jones told us.

The indictment, announced last Wednesday, details Jones' lavish personal expenses. The feds say he spent six years pocketing the Cornerstone Community Center cash while it was being built.

"Reverend Jones claimed that the money was used to purchase construction materials to be used for the community center, when in fact he would spend the stolen funds on hotels, restaurants, gambling at casinos, liquor, automobiles and luxury items,” said U.S. Attorney, Danny Williams.

The list also includes a Rolex, a mahogany mink full-length coat with a personal monogram and matching hat and gloves.

The grand total comes out to $933,507.80.

The indictment says the pastor paid the mortgage on his house and lied on his tax returns; now the feds want him to pay it back.

In court Friday, the reverend pleaded not guilty and said he couldn't afford an attorney.

He was fired from the community center last year but the 63 year old is still the pastor of the church. He told the judge he was not guilty.

"The spiritual pain caused by Mr. Jones will result in a much more consequential form of spiritual justice from a judge not of this earth,” said James Finch with the FBI.

Jones is not required to go to jail but had to promise he won't leave the Tulsa area or get rid of any assets.

Williams said it may take up to 30 days before we know if the case will go to trial.