Church Usher Faces Charges After Allegedly Taking Thousands In Donation Money

LAFAYETTE TOWNSHIP, NJ(CBSNewYork) -- A man is facing charges after police accused him of stealing thousands of dollars in church money.

"I think that's about a year's tuition at my school. That's a lot of money," Jared Alosio told CBS2's Valerie Castro.

Alosio and his family attend Lafayette Federated Church where 50-year-old usher Cody MacMillian has been charged with theft, after police say he took donations from the collection basket.

County prosecutors say over the course of a year, MacMillian would cash checks made out to the church into his own account. The amount stolen reached $67,003.04.

"Sixty-seven thousand dollars. Oh yeah, that's a lot," neighbor Ken Reuter said.

MacMillian's neighbors don't know him well but were shocked to hear about the allegations.

"It's terrible. Churches rely on the collection to help people," Reuter said,

MacMillian was not home on Friday, and church staff refused to comment.

"They're good people there, so this was a surprise to everybody and they're definitely handling it their own way,"Alosio said.

Alosio said his father has often donated money to the church, but said he is not angry.

"It's hard to be angry. I mean maybe the guy had reasons, but even so you can't really justify stealing $67,000. Especially from a church of all places," Alosio said.

MacMillian has pleaded guilty to first degree theft. He will be sentenced in late March.

Church officials didn't notice the missing money until they reviewed their financial records.

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