Pastor gets four years
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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 Wednesday morning sentencing in Culpeper County Circuit Court, the Rev. Charles V. Shifflett, 57, had faced 311 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 to 20 felonies and a misdemeanor charge, avoiding a jury trial that had been set for July. He had faced 51 charges, but 30 were indefinitely suspended.
Twenty similar charges against his wife Janice were dismissed.
Instead, Judge John J. McGrath sentenced Shifflett to 100 years on the felonies and 12 months on the misdemeanor. McGrath then suspended the misdemeanor sentence and 96 years of the felony sentence.
Additionally, Shifflett must pay $5,000 to Indiana-based Brotherhood Mutual Insurance Co. and $20,000 to Wisconsin-based Church Mutual Insurance Co. Shifflett must also pay $14,000 restitution to the state, unless a lesser amount is assessed by an audit. Finally, Shifflett was ordered to remain on probation until all the money is repaid.
Background
The charges stem from Shifflett’s former role as pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Culpeper. On Wednesday, Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Dale Durrer told the court that an investigation headed by the State Police and state tax officials found that in March 2002, Shifflett directed a church bookkeeper to pay his wife Janice a $250 housing allowance. Durrer said that move came at almost the same time Shifflett’s weekly salary was reduced by the same amount because he was receiving workman’s compensation. Durrer also said that Shifflett misrepresented his salary for tax purposes. Durrer also told the court that Shifflett’s actions indicated an “ongoing criminal enterprise” and that planning was required to carry out the deception.
The prosecution also called Probation Officer Colleen Kimball, who testified that Shifflett told her during an interview that any wrongdoing on his part was unintentional and that the whole situation was “over hate”.
But McGrath rejected Durrer’s motion to admit a victim impact statement prepared by Calvary Baptist Church as evidence, agreeing with the defense, who said the statement included information about past crimes that wasn’t relevant to the case at hand.
Shifflett’s defense attorneys, Charles Bowman and Samuel Higginbotham, said that Shifflett was forced into a corner, threatened with federal prosecution on mail fraud charges for receiving the workman’s comp checks under false pretenses. They asked the court to suspend any jail time, and order probation instead, citing the more than three months that Shifflett has been jailed since entering his plea.
Sentencing
Addressing the court before the sentence was passed, Shifflett apologized for his actions but said he would like to go back to leading his present church, First Baptist Church of Culpeper, which he began after resigning from Calvary Baptist.
“I would like to go back to being their pastor,” he said, adding that he’s known some members for 20 years. “I’m not here to say that I’m right — I’m here to say I made wrong decisions.”
As the sentence was being read, some in the courtroom — which was filled to capacity with members from both churches — began sobbing, while others broke into applause, prompting McGrath to call for order. Dressed in a dark suit and tie, and shackled at the hands and feet, Shifflett was taken into custody immediately.
Past problems
In December 2006, Shifflett was convicted of a felony cruelty to children charge and six misdemeanor assault and battery charges against children who attended his church and a school operated by the church in the late 1980s and early 90s. He was sentenced to 700 hours of community service in that case.
Reached by phone, Chad Robison, one of Shifflett’s former students and church members, and the first to come forward in the abuse case, said he has mixed emotions about Wednesday’s outcome, but added that he’s forgiven Shifflett.
“It never was about hatred, never was it about revenge, and it’s never been about closure on my behalf,” Robison said.
But “considering his past history and obviously the charges that he was sentenced on today, no I just don’t think it’s fair,” he said. “He should spend the rest of his life in prison.”
Nate Delesline III can be reached at 825-0771 ext. 110 or .
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Reader Reactions
Posted by ( El Debibble ) on October 10, 2008 at 6:43 am
He deserved it. He got it. His congregation is typical in that since he is “their man” what he did was OK. If it had been someone else’s “man” it would be horrible.
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Posted by ( relieved ) on October 09, 2008 at 10:54 pm
I was in the courtroom on the day of Shiffletts sentencing and I must say I am appalled at the way Shiffletts congregation conducted themselves after his sentence was handed down. One young lady who was pointed out to me as one of his daughters was using foul language toward some of the others who opposed him. And another older lady went out of her way to approach one young man and asked him “he was smiling was he happy” she then turned her attention to the other gentleman standing there and continued her attack on him, who I was later told was her own son. And then they continued this behavior of verbally attacking people after they were outside. My comment is if this so called “preacher” was such a fine man it would lead one to belive that his congregation would follow in thier leaders footsteps and conduct thier behavior better than what they did, but then again maybe they WERE conducting themselves in the behavior that is acceptable by thier man of god, because look at what ALL he has plead GUILTY to. So if this is any indication of the kind of example that he lead by no wonder he is where he is. And to the one called Patrick who made the reference about the “Flavor-Aid” well honey this is just a generic brand of “Kool-Aid” same difference, why make a big deal about this.
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Posted by ( Whatever ) on October 09, 2008 at 5:40 pm
One more thing…This is to Tom Reese…have you figured out whos side you are on yet…years ago you the left the church, then returned, left..returned..left…returned. What is it 6 or 7 times that you have repeated this? The last I hear you left the church AGAIN over a month ago! You and Charles had frequent disagreements. Yet you still sit in support of him on his day of sentencing! What is it that he is holding over you? Did he threaten to bring you down if you wouldn’t help him. Are you the one that paid for his top notch lawyers or did he steal that from the church as well? I have always wondered about that because we all know, that very few in that congragation of 50 (maybe 1 or 2), could afford to hire the defense team that he had working for him.
I think everyone that was ever THAT involved, enough to “donate”(TOM…you don’t even sell bus’ at your dealership), write checks, organized fund raisers, ect.,should be investigated to some degree. I truely believe that so much more would be uncovered. His wife…please…she is just as much of a snake as the rest of them. I have no pity for her…the commonwealth should have taken her up the road as well. If for no other reason then to show that organized crime will not be tolorated to ANY degree in organized religion, just as it isn’t tolorated outside of organized religion.
Well that’s enough from me…I’m sure you all agree. To those still at the “church”, when he gets back, and you all have to “pay for HIS sins” don’t drink the Flavor Aid to slowly,I hear that drinking poison can be painful…just thought you should know that…
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Posted by ( PEERINSESS ) on October 09, 2008 at 4:50 pm
Yet again, I say “You shall reap what you sew” and sew himself an airtight plastic bag to live in…..
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Posted by ( Whatever ) on October 09, 2008 at 4:22 pm
I’m SO Glad to see him gone for a while. I think he should never get out!Look at what he was aready convicted of a couple of years ago before the issues with the money…I think that one of his previous charges read as torturing children!AND HE PLEAD GUILTY!Not to mention he has admitted to being a complete crook! He knew better!Even an 18 year old knows that they have to file all income sources on a Tax Return! Give me a break! Do you really think that he gave is wife a pay increase on the same day his WC wages were cut back by coincidence??!!!Clearly a premeditated scam! He claims that he did not know he was doing anything wrong…wouldn’t you think that after someone has been doing something for more the 20 years, that they would pretty well versed in all aspects of the business…yes, a church is somewhat of a business as it does generate money.
How can those people still believe in him and follow him??? That is what I really can’t understand.Why, after the man as admitted to stealing from a CHURCH and beating small children, would ANYONE want to follow him. Are these people so brain washed that they can not see that they are following a criminal? A CONVICTED FELON and now a resident of a state penitentiary. I was in the court house when he was sentenced, although I was not in the court room. When his “followers” came out, there were more four letter words and acts of aggresion coming from them then tears!!! I know who his daughters are, and the langauge they used was unreal! His “sheep” were screaming in the faces of former victims and victim supporters. What kind of testomony is it for a “Christian” to scream at someone, “Watch you back” or “he’s going to get out…what are you going to do about it then”. I even heard one young “lady” talking outload on her cell saying “I can believe these ____ers…they sent my ___ing preacher to prison”. What a statement!!! By the way those people acted, they don’t need a preacher! They need God! One thing that observed was the victims and their supporters never, not one single time, exploded with anger or used foul langauge.I think it is very clear who the “bad guys” are in all of this.
Well, I hope Charles enjoys his time in prison! He has a few years to think about what he’s done…or maybe he will use that time to better his skills as a criminal! Either way, Culpeper has one less criminal to worry about…for now.
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Posted by ( jeriwho ) on October 09, 2008 at 12:03 pm
Yes, shame on you tatoo22. Didn’t you know that the Bible taught that no matter how shameful, how unspeakably horrific a pastor’s deeds are, it is nobody’s business in Christendom but his own church? And if they say he is not to be held accountable, then nobody can hold him accountable for sins that would not even be committed on skid row? Oh wait, the Bible says no such thing. The Bible says he is to be confronted, the charges heard, the matter investigated, and if he is guilty and unrepentant, he is to be excommunicated. But these so-called Bible believers have no clue about what the Bible actually teaches. They permit and deny and cover up the sins that destroyed Sodom.
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Posted by ( Patrick ) on October 09, 2008 at 11:49 am
—Tatoo22—, if you are refering to the “Jonestown” situation, get your facts straight. it was “Flavor-Aid”. please try not to desecrate a spiritual leader to many, onless you are one yourself. everyone has an opinion. tell yours to your congregation if they will listen.
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Posted by ( tatoo22 ) on October 09, 2008 at 8:08 am
Soooo…For all u Shifflett fans, how does it feel to have a convicted FELON, tax fraud, embezzler and workers comp fraud “man of the cloth” as your “kool aid” man. He deserves so much more than he received however, as well all know - given enough rope, he will HANG himself. Congrats to Asst. C.A. Durrur
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