Pastor gets four years for financial crimes
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Charles V. Shifflett
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By Nate Delesline III
Published: October 8, 2008
A Culpeper clergyman will spend four years in prison on felony financial charges.
At his sentencing this morning in Culpeper County Circuit Court, the Rev. Charles V. Shifflett, 57, had faced more than 300 years in prison and $52,500 in fines for obtaining money by false pretenses, tax fraud and filing false workman’s compensation claims.
Shifflett pleaded guilty in June, avoiding a jury trial that had been set for July.
Instead, Judge John J. McGrath sentenced Shifflett to 100 years on 20 felony charges and 12 months on a misdemeanor charge. McGrath then suspended the misdemeanor sentence and 96 years of the felony sentence.
Additionally, Shifflett must pay two insurance companies restitution totaling $25,000 and $14,000 in restitution to the state. McGrath also ordered Shifflett to remain on probation until all the money is repaid.
The charges stem from Shifflett’s former role as pastor of Calvary Baptist. The Virginia State Police and state tax officials handled the investigation.
Addressing the court before the sentence was passed, Shifflett apologized for his mistakes but said he would like to go back to leading his church, First Baptist Church of Culpeper.
As the sentence was being read, some in the courtroom, which was filled to capacity, began sobbing; others broke into applause, prompting the judge to call for order.
Dressed in a dark suit and tie, and shackled at the hands and feet, Shifflett was taken into custody immediately.
Look for full coverage in Thursday’s Star-Exponent
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Posted by ( The Hobbitt ) on October 09, 2008 at 2:40 pm
I read a comment in the Fredericksburg.com website that stated one of Chucks herd, stood face to face with another individual and “shouted” “Thats not Christ like behavior”. Now I am reading about threats being issued on both sides. Really…shouting about Christ like behavior, and then threatning people. Step back and look how ridiculous your behavior looks to people reading this. Chuck plead guilty…he admitted it. In both cases. I’ll repeat that…he (Chuck, plead guilty) he said he did it. Why are you angry. Are you mad that you followed someone like this, or are you mad at the people that pointed it out. Do feel that you have invested so much time and money in this machine that you cant bear to see that everything you believed in was a facade. If you cant look in the mirror at yourself because of embarassment, thats your problem. A cockroach cant be mad when someone turns on the lights to expose him. Someone has turned on the lights, scury away, or live in the light.
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Posted by ( jeriwho ) on October 09, 2008 at 7:41 am
I think “tsmw” has very ably and comprehensively demonstrated the moral and spiritual bankruptcy, throwing in a complete ignorance of what the Bible actually teaches about the way sin in a congregation is to be handled, in the response to Jimmy Jones. The Fundamental Baptist followers of Shifflett have posted a case of the following reasoning:
Shifflett is innocent because other people did it too.
Shifflett is innocent because he did other stuff that was good.
Shifflett is innocent because our church is bigger then your church.
Shifflett is innocent becauuse other men, completely unrelated to this case, were falsely imprisoned.
Thank you, tsmw, for making my case for me. If I had ever said the followers of Shifflett are as unschooled in Scripture and ignorant of Christian morality as they are, nobody would have believed me. Thank you for providing the evidence. And you might want to work on your spelling, too.
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Posted by ( tsmw ) on October 09, 2008 at 6:43 am
To Jimmy Jones: How stupid can you be! Everybody makes mistakes. There is not one person in either church that is perfect. Half of the people in court yesterday wasn’t even going to that church at the time. I know for a fact because I was. Whose following who now. Sure he made mistakes and admitted to them but if you paid any attention in court you would of heard that Calvary at that time had no lawyer, no accountant bascially no guidance to tell them what could and couldn’t be done. The so called Deacons or signers on the checks are at fault to. I bet you voted for President Clinton. Innocent men go to prison after fighting for all they were worth. Remember Earl Washington? How many have you read about lately that have been released because it was finally proven they were innocent after years of fighting. Was what David Martin did okay? If Calvary is not doing well now its because you need to get those lazy people you have left and do something. All of you that were there and are still there that knows Preacher Shifflett knew he was always there for anybody and he worked harder than anybody. His family and some members always made it fun for everybody coming to that church and you all know it. Archie made a statement saying the preacher said if you didn’t like it get out. He’s right, he did say that.If you go against what the bible teaches.We had a a sunday school teacher having an affair with a member,he told her to end it or leave. He warned another lady member about gossip, hurtful lieing gossip, if she didn’t stop she would have to leave. Whats wrong with that. He actually went on to council them. You know God has a plan. You all left at Calvary better watch out. Everything comes to pass and I have a feeling you all will be passed on by.
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Posted by ( Jimmy Jones ) on October 08, 2008 at 7:26 pm
I was passing by the courthouse after the sentencing and saw a group of 30-40 people outside. I was appauled at their behavior. From their foul language to the threats against others for what happened today, it shows their true colors. No, these threats of “Better watch their backs” weren’t made by the people accusing him of these crimes, they were made by his followers. The same followers who have taken a sip of his Kool-Aid and continued onto to his new church. What does this tell you about his congregation? For me, it shows the hate and anger he taught, and not the true meaning of the Bible.
Today, people were faced with believing cold hard facts, or putting their faith in a false idol. And they put their faith in a fraud, a manipulator, a liar. Someone who lead a life of do as I say, not as I do. Sadly, I doubt they will ever change and truly accept that Mr. Shifflett did the very wrong doings he pleaded guilty to.
If you’re honestly innocent, why take a plea deal? Was the evidence too overwhelingly against you that you know you can’t fight? An innocent man will fight for every last shred of his integrity, not take a deal.
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Posted by ( tatoo22 ) on October 08, 2008 at 7:09 pm
I too was in court today. I was sick to my stomach at the “kool aid” drinkers so I had to leave. “Chuck” has gotten some of what he deserves. He will get the rest at a later date. I am so glad there WERE invetigators who cared enough to get things done.
Enjoy PRISON Chuck.
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Posted by ( PEERINSESS ) on October 08, 2008 at 5:50 pm
I dont care what he did when he was doing right, what he did was WRONG and his punishment isnt near what he deserves! Couldnt convince me any other way…
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Posted by ( jeriwho ) on October 08, 2008 at 12:20 pm
So once again Charles Shifflett gets a far lighter sentence than he deserves. But I’m not surpirsed. It seems that the engines of this world will operate to serve one of their own. But I think the Lord’s displeasure on Shifflett is evident, and I will be surprised if he ever gets another day’s rest.
Also interesting to see the moral pragmatism evident in the comments by one of his “100% loyal” followers. Because Shifflett gave money to Archy Seale, one of the former inner circle that orbited Shifflett in his heyday, Archy Seale is supposed to lie for Shifflett. That is typical of the anti-Christian reasoning and thinking that has long reigned in Shifflet’s church. It is a thinking typical of much of Christian Fundamentalism. For them, Truth becomes elastic, something you re-structure on behalf of those to whom you owe “loyalty.“ An unspoken tragedy of Shifflett’s “ministry” is that he turned so many away from the real teachings of Christ, all the while convincing them of the exact opposite.
Jeri Massi
Conference of the Lambs
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Posted by ( tsmw ) on October 08, 2008 at 12:00 pm
I was there in the courtroom. I use to go to Calvary Church.It showed the true colors of the people who thought it was funny. I left not because the church split but because I could see thru the ones that are still there. I can’t believe Archy Seale told the lies he did. He was one on the few that I thought I had trusted. He has been there forever, if he saw any wrong doing, he should have spoke up. He chose not to. He should be punished for giving blank checks. What kind of a person does that make him? If you are a signer on an account, you should be responsible enough to ask where is the money going? Everybody knows all money was put back into the church. Archie, remenber when you were going thru your troubles with your children, who was there for you. All of you that are still there and think its funny, I was looking at you all with your smug faces and I remember Mr. & Mrs. Shifflett and his girls there for all of you. You wouldn’t of even had food on your table or gas in your car if it wasn’t for them. Do you all remember? No, how soon we forget. I guess you all forgot also that the land Calvary Baptist Church is sitting on was suppose to be Mr. & Mrs. Shifflett’s home. But they gave it so the Church would have a home to grown on. Lucky for you all, sad for them. You all proved today that none of you have forgiveness in your hearts and they are as black as coal. May God forgive.
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