Ex-School Board Member Pleads In Church Theft Case

A former East Feliciana Parish School Board member has pleaded no contest to felony theft in connection with a scheme to divert funds meant for a West Feliciana Parish church.

80-year-old Oliver Wingfield of Jackson entered the plea Thursday before state District Judge William G. Carmichael, who sentenced Wingfield to a suspended five-year prison term.

Carmichael also placed Wingfield on supervised probation for five years on the condition he pay a $1,000 fine, make restitution to the church and perform 60 days of community service.

State police allege Wingfield and others were involved in a check-cashing scheme to divert $80,000 in insurance money paid to the nonprofit organization that was supposed to go to another nonprofit, Union Bethel Family Church.