Sunday, August 28, 2011 12:52:34 AM
Well-Known Dallas Pastor, Sandy McGriff, Caught Breaking into Church Member's House on Christmas Eve
Janet Shan
Monday, December 27, 2010
South Dallas pastor Sandy McGriff arrested for breaking into home of church member Serita Agnew & stealing fur coats & laptop computers Christmas Eve.
SHAME: Another snake in the pulpit has been revealed [ http://www.khou.com/home/-Pastor-faces-theft-charges-after-caught-climbing-out-window-of-church-members-home-112504374.html ] after South Dallas Pastor Sandy McGriff, was spotted breaking into the home of Serita Agnew, one of her parishioners, on Christmas Eve. McGriff, who has a criminal record, has been accused of stealing fur coats and laptop computers from Ms. Agnew's home. What's terrible is that this wasn't the act of a random criminal on the street. It was her pastor, who she revered and looked up to.
Some people wonder why church membership across the United States is falling. Well, here's a prime reason why. This do-as-I-say but not-as-I-do mentality is etched in the minds of many pastors who mean their congregants no good. The excuse McGriff, who is from a well-known religious family in Dallas, used when police caught her red-handed is comical:
"My biggest mistake was going through... going through the window," McGriff told WFAA, KENS 5's sister station, explaining that she was checking on Agnew on Christmas Eve and she caught two men breaking in. McGriff said she climbed through the window so she could protect Agnew's property. She said she couldn't find the key to the house. But why not just call the police? "My mistake," she said. "I should have." Source: KHOU-TV
Well, Ms. McGriff is a long-time con-artist, who has a lengthy criminal record and goes by several aliases, according to KHOU.com. You see, everyone deserves a second chance when they fall down, but dang, how easy was it for this woman to plant a church somewhere? What's equally amazing is the incredible level of hubris this woman displays in saying she plans to plead not guilty to the theft.
Watch the video:
[embedded]
UPDATE#1: Here is another video with Mrs. McGriff being interviewed. She is lying through her teeth. A real con artist.
[video embedded]
Copyright © 2011 The Hinterland Gazette
http://www.hinterlandgazette.com/2010/12/well-known-dallas-pastor-sandy-mcgriff.html [no comments]
*
Video: Sandy McGriff Tells Her Side of the Story
Posted Monday, December 27, 2010
First, a re-cap, posted in yesterday’s Black Collar Crime Round-Up [ http://home.conservativebabylon.com/2010/12/26/black-collar-crime-round-up-december-26-2010/ ]:
Accused: Sandra “Sandy” McGriff [ http://home.conservativebabylon.com/category/sandy-mcgriff/ ], a.k.a. Kathy Robinson, 50, co-pastor with husband Weldon McGriff (brother of the late Larry McGriff [ http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/021810dnmetbishopmcg.12e5088ea.html ], prominent Dallas pastor of the original Church of the Living God), Dallas, Texas, of burglarizing the home of a congregant of “more than $10,000 worth of clothing, purses and electronics.” Police also say she slipped out of two sets of handcuffs, and kicked and scratched officers as they arrested her. One Charles McGriff “said his family’s relationship with Sandra and Weldon McGriff had been strained for months as they had disagreements over how best to lead a church,” and so Weldon and Sandra McGriff (or “Evanglist Sandy Mcgriff,” as she calls herself on Facebook [ http://www.facebook.com/people/Evanglist-Sandy-Mcgriff/100000443307605 ]) established their own church, also called Church of the Living God. Story: Dallas Morning News [ http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/stories/DN-badpastor_26met.ART0.East.Edition1.1483903.html ], December 26, 2010
Now, Ms. McGriff’s side of the story, presented without comment (we’re too busy munching on popcorn):
[video embedded]
Copyright © 2002-2010 LavenderLiberal.com
http://home.conservativebabylon.com/2010/12/27/video-sandy-mcgriff-tells-her-side-of-the-story/ [with comments]
*
Serita Agnew Tells GMA She Isn't Buying What Pastor Sandy McGriff Is Selling[stricken through]Stealing
By Robert Wilonsky
Wed., Dec. 29 2010 at 9:06 AM
No doubt you've heard the tale of Sandy McGriff, the 52-year-old Church of the Living God pastor -- and a former prostitute with more than 12 aliases, according to the Dallas Police Department -- who was spotted breaking into congregant Serita Agnew's house on Christmas Eve and is accused of swiping her fur coats, some purses and a laptop. McGriff has said she was doing Agnew a solid by breaking into her home -- in order to, ya know, stop some burglars from absconding with the looted items. Happens. Doesn't it?
McGriff's already told her side of the story (and not very well [ http://www.dallasnews.com/video/dallasnews/hp/?bcid=726291517001&bcpl=207603118001 ] ). This morning, on Good Morning America, it was Agnew's turn [ http://abcnews.go.com/US/dallas-parishioner-fur-coats-purses-allegedly-stolen-pastor/story?id=12497950 ]. And she's "devastated" and "in disbelief" by what her pastor did. Still, she tells ABC's Chris Cuomo, perhaps this is all part of God's Layaway Plan: "Being a person of faith, I've come to believe that we are presented with challenges in our life, and I believe that all of those challenges are tailor-designed for us, specifically, to bring us closer to God. And if I believe that for myself, I have to believe that for Sandy, and my hope is that she finds her way."
©2011 Dallas Observer, LLC
http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/unfairpark/2010/12/serita_agnew_tells_gma_she_isn.php [with comments]
*
Pastor Who Burglarized Parishioner on Christmas Eve Gets Probation
By Kevin Boie | MYFOXDFW.COM
Updated: Friday, 26 Aug 2011, 1:14 PM CDT
Published : Friday, 26 Aug 2011, 12:22 PM CDT
DALLAS - Dallas pastor Sandy McGriff on Thursday was sentenced to 5 years probation for burglarizing a parishioner's home last Christmas Eve.
According to investigators, McGriff broke into Serita Agnew's home and tried to steal more than $10,000 worth of fur coats, designer purses and electronics [ http://www.myfoxdfw.com/dpp/news/oak-cliff-pastor-arrested ].
McGriff, who leads The Church of the Living God in Oak Cliff and is a member of a politically active family, was caught in the act by a neighbor, who called police.
Responding officers said they saw the pastor loading the items into her car. They said McGriff used an alias, attacked them and slipped out of handcuffs.
The pastor had claimed she was simply protecting the valuables after she chased two burglars away from Agnew's home.
In fact, in an interview with FOX 4 News following her arrest, McGriff maintained her innocence [ http://www.myfoxdfw.com/dpp/news/oak-cliff-pastor-arrested ].
With slurred speech she attributed to pain pills, McGriff said "I'm a giver, not a taker. I'm not a burlgarer (sic)."
(c) 2011 Fox Television Stations, Inc.
http://www.myfoxdfw.com/dpp/news/unusual/082611-Pastor-Who-Burglarized-Parishioner-on-Christmas-Eve-Gets-Probation [with comments]
*
Texas pastor gets probation for stealing from home
Published 08:05 a.m., Friday, August 26, 2011
DALLAS (AP) — A Texas pastor caught stealing from a church member's home was reminded by a judge who sentenced her to probation that her actions broke three of the Ten Commandments related to stealing, lying and coveting.
Sandy McGriff, cofounder of the Church of the Living God in Dallas, was sentenced to five years of probation for taking fur coats, designer purses and electronics from the home of Serita Agnew on Christmas Eve.
The Dallas Morning News reports ( http://www.dallasnews.com/news/crime/headlines/20110825-judge-invokes-commandments-while-scolding-dallas-pastor-who-stole-from-a-congregant.ece ) state District Judge Andy Chatham told McGriff before sentencing her Thursday her actions were "no way to lead your life or to teach others."
McGriff apologized to Agnew, who was in the courtroom.
The pastor had claimed she was only protecting the valuables after she found a broken window at Agnew's home.
Information from: The Dallas Morning News, http://www.dallasnews.com
© 2011 Hearst Communications Inc.
http://www.chron.com/news/article/Texas-pastor-gets-probation-for-stealing-from-home-2142409.php [with comments]
===
YOUTH VOLUNTEER AT TARRANT COUNTY CHURCH
IS ARRESTED ON FEDERAL CHILD PORNOGRAPHY CHARGE
Defendant Ordered Detained
TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 2011
FORT WORTH, Texas — A detention/probable cause hearing was held this morning for Derek M. Ripley, 27, of Fort Worth, Texas, who was arrested on a federal criminal complaint charging distribution of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney James T. Jacks of the Northern District of Texas. U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeffrey L. Cureton ordered Ripley, who has been in custody since his arrest following the execution of a federal search warrant at his residence on Thursday, detained pending further court proceedings.
According to testimony presented at this morning’s hearing and information contained in the affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, Ripley volunteered his time working with the youth at Trinity Chapel Church on Southwest Boulevard in Benbrook, Texas. In November 2010, an FBI agent, working in an undercover capacity, used peer-to-peer file-sharing to determine that an individual, using a particular username, was logged into the network. The undercover agent browsed this particular user name's shared folders and observed numerous images of child pornography, including movie files of prepubescent males engaged in sexual activity. Further investigation revealed that this particular user was Ripley.
A federal complaint is a written statement of the essential facts of the offenses charged, and must be made under oath before a magistrate judge. A defendant is entitled to the presumption of innocence until proven guilty. If convicted of this offense, however, Ripley faces a statutory sentence of not less than five years or more than 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and a lifetime of supervised release. The U.S. Attorney’s office has 30 days to present the matter to a grand jury for indictment.
This matter was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.projectsafechildhood.gov
The matter is being investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex C. Lewis.
http://www.justice.gov/usao/txn/PressRel11/ripley_PSC_compl_pr.html
*
Church aide gets 10 years in child porn case
Marty Sabota
Posted at 08:11 PM August 26, 2011
FORT WORTH — A 27-year-old Fort Worth man who did volunteer work with children at Trinity Chapel Church on Southwest Boulevard in Benbrook was sentenced Friday to 10 years in federal prison on a child pornography charge.
Prosecutors said Derek M. Ripley was sentenced on one count of distributing child pornography. He also was ordered to be under supervised release for life. He pleaded guilty in May.
Authorities say Ripley admitted to using the Internet to distribute three images of boys engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.
Copyright 2011 Fort Worth Star-Telegram
http://blogs.star-telegram.com/crime_time/2011/08/church-aide-gets-10-years-in-child-porn-case.html [no comments yet]
Janet Shan
Monday, December 27, 2010
South Dallas pastor Sandy McGriff arrested for breaking into home of church member Serita Agnew & stealing fur coats & laptop computers Christmas Eve.
SHAME: Another snake in the pulpit has been revealed [ http://www.khou.com/home/-Pastor-faces-theft-charges-after-caught-climbing-out-window-of-church-members-home-112504374.html ] after South Dallas Pastor Sandy McGriff, was spotted breaking into the home of Serita Agnew, one of her parishioners, on Christmas Eve. McGriff, who has a criminal record, has been accused of stealing fur coats and laptop computers from Ms. Agnew's home. What's terrible is that this wasn't the act of a random criminal on the street. It was her pastor, who she revered and looked up to.
Some people wonder why church membership across the United States is falling. Well, here's a prime reason why. This do-as-I-say but not-as-I-do mentality is etched in the minds of many pastors who mean their congregants no good. The excuse McGriff, who is from a well-known religious family in Dallas, used when police caught her red-handed is comical:
"My biggest mistake was going through... going through the window," McGriff told WFAA, KENS 5's sister station, explaining that she was checking on Agnew on Christmas Eve and she caught two men breaking in. McGriff said she climbed through the window so she could protect Agnew's property. She said she couldn't find the key to the house. But why not just call the police? "My mistake," she said. "I should have." Source: KHOU-TV
Well, Ms. McGriff is a long-time con-artist, who has a lengthy criminal record and goes by several aliases, according to KHOU.com. You see, everyone deserves a second chance when they fall down, but dang, how easy was it for this woman to plant a church somewhere? What's equally amazing is the incredible level of hubris this woman displays in saying she plans to plead not guilty to the theft.
Watch the video:
[embedded]
UPDATE#1: Here is another video with Mrs. McGriff being interviewed. She is lying through her teeth. A real con artist.
[video embedded]
Copyright © 2011 The Hinterland Gazette
http://www.hinterlandgazette.com/2010/12/well-known-dallas-pastor-sandy-mcgriff.html [no comments]
*
Video: Sandy McGriff Tells Her Side of the Story
Posted Monday, December 27, 2010
First, a re-cap, posted in yesterday’s Black Collar Crime Round-Up [ http://home.conservativebabylon.com/2010/12/26/black-collar-crime-round-up-december-26-2010/ ]:
Accused: Sandra “Sandy” McGriff [ http://home.conservativebabylon.com/category/sandy-mcgriff/ ], a.k.a. Kathy Robinson, 50, co-pastor with husband Weldon McGriff (brother of the late Larry McGriff [ http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/021810dnmetbishopmcg.12e5088ea.html ], prominent Dallas pastor of the original Church of the Living God), Dallas, Texas, of burglarizing the home of a congregant of “more than $10,000 worth of clothing, purses and electronics.” Police also say she slipped out of two sets of handcuffs, and kicked and scratched officers as they arrested her. One Charles McGriff “said his family’s relationship with Sandra and Weldon McGriff had been strained for months as they had disagreements over how best to lead a church,” and so Weldon and Sandra McGriff (or “Evanglist Sandy Mcgriff,” as she calls herself on Facebook [ http://www.facebook.com/people/Evanglist-Sandy-Mcgriff/100000443307605 ]) established their own church, also called Church of the Living God. Story: Dallas Morning News [ http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/stories/DN-badpastor_26met.ART0.East.Edition1.1483903.html ], December 26, 2010
Now, Ms. McGriff’s side of the story, presented without comment (we’re too busy munching on popcorn):
[video embedded]
Copyright © 2002-2010 LavenderLiberal.com
http://home.conservativebabylon.com/2010/12/27/video-sandy-mcgriff-tells-her-side-of-the-story/ [with comments]
*
Serita Agnew Tells GMA She Isn't Buying What Pastor Sandy McGriff Is Selling[stricken through]Stealing
By Robert Wilonsky
Wed., Dec. 29 2010 at 9:06 AM
No doubt you've heard the tale of Sandy McGriff, the 52-year-old Church of the Living God pastor -- and a former prostitute with more than 12 aliases, according to the Dallas Police Department -- who was spotted breaking into congregant Serita Agnew's house on Christmas Eve and is accused of swiping her fur coats, some purses and a laptop. McGriff has said she was doing Agnew a solid by breaking into her home -- in order to, ya know, stop some burglars from absconding with the looted items. Happens. Doesn't it?
McGriff's already told her side of the story (and not very well [ http://www.dallasnews.com/video/dallasnews/hp/?bcid=726291517001&bcpl=207603118001 ] ). This morning, on Good Morning America, it was Agnew's turn [ http://abcnews.go.com/US/dallas-parishioner-fur-coats-purses-allegedly-stolen-pastor/story?id=12497950 ]. And she's "devastated" and "in disbelief" by what her pastor did. Still, she tells ABC's Chris Cuomo, perhaps this is all part of God's Layaway Plan: "Being a person of faith, I've come to believe that we are presented with challenges in our life, and I believe that all of those challenges are tailor-designed for us, specifically, to bring us closer to God. And if I believe that for myself, I have to believe that for Sandy, and my hope is that she finds her way."
©2011 Dallas Observer, LLC
http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/unfairpark/2010/12/serita_agnew_tells_gma_she_isn.php [with comments]
*
Pastor Who Burglarized Parishioner on Christmas Eve Gets Probation
By Kevin Boie | MYFOXDFW.COM
Updated: Friday, 26 Aug 2011, 1:14 PM CDT
Published : Friday, 26 Aug 2011, 12:22 PM CDT
DALLAS - Dallas pastor Sandy McGriff on Thursday was sentenced to 5 years probation for burglarizing a parishioner's home last Christmas Eve.
According to investigators, McGriff broke into Serita Agnew's home and tried to steal more than $10,000 worth of fur coats, designer purses and electronics [ http://www.myfoxdfw.com/dpp/news/oak-cliff-pastor-arrested ].
McGriff, who leads The Church of the Living God in Oak Cliff and is a member of a politically active family, was caught in the act by a neighbor, who called police.
Responding officers said they saw the pastor loading the items into her car. They said McGriff used an alias, attacked them and slipped out of handcuffs.
The pastor had claimed she was simply protecting the valuables after she chased two burglars away from Agnew's home.
In fact, in an interview with FOX 4 News following her arrest, McGriff maintained her innocence [ http://www.myfoxdfw.com/dpp/news/oak-cliff-pastor-arrested ].
With slurred speech she attributed to pain pills, McGriff said "I'm a giver, not a taker. I'm not a burlgarer (sic)."
(c) 2011 Fox Television Stations, Inc.
http://www.myfoxdfw.com/dpp/news/unusual/082611-Pastor-Who-Burglarized-Parishioner-on-Christmas-Eve-Gets-Probation [with comments]
*
Texas pastor gets probation for stealing from home
Published 08:05 a.m., Friday, August 26, 2011
DALLAS (AP) — A Texas pastor caught stealing from a church member's home was reminded by a judge who sentenced her to probation that her actions broke three of the Ten Commandments related to stealing, lying and coveting.
Sandy McGriff, cofounder of the Church of the Living God in Dallas, was sentenced to five years of probation for taking fur coats, designer purses and electronics from the home of Serita Agnew on Christmas Eve.
The Dallas Morning News reports ( http://www.dallasnews.com/news/crime/headlines/20110825-judge-invokes-commandments-while-scolding-dallas-pastor-who-stole-from-a-congregant.ece ) state District Judge Andy Chatham told McGriff before sentencing her Thursday her actions were "no way to lead your life or to teach others."
McGriff apologized to Agnew, who was in the courtroom.
The pastor had claimed she was only protecting the valuables after she found a broken window at Agnew's home.
Information from: The Dallas Morning News, http://www.dallasnews.com
© 2011 Hearst Communications Inc.
http://www.chron.com/news/article/Texas-pastor-gets-probation-for-stealing-from-home-2142409.php [with comments]
===
YOUTH VOLUNTEER AT TARRANT COUNTY CHURCH
IS ARRESTED ON FEDERAL CHILD PORNOGRAPHY CHARGE
Defendant Ordered Detained
TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 2011
FORT WORTH, Texas — A detention/probable cause hearing was held this morning for Derek M. Ripley, 27, of Fort Worth, Texas, who was arrested on a federal criminal complaint charging distribution of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney James T. Jacks of the Northern District of Texas. U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeffrey L. Cureton ordered Ripley, who has been in custody since his arrest following the execution of a federal search warrant at his residence on Thursday, detained pending further court proceedings.
According to testimony presented at this morning’s hearing and information contained in the affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, Ripley volunteered his time working with the youth at Trinity Chapel Church on Southwest Boulevard in Benbrook, Texas. In November 2010, an FBI agent, working in an undercover capacity, used peer-to-peer file-sharing to determine that an individual, using a particular username, was logged into the network. The undercover agent browsed this particular user name's shared folders and observed numerous images of child pornography, including movie files of prepubescent males engaged in sexual activity. Further investigation revealed that this particular user was Ripley.
A federal complaint is a written statement of the essential facts of the offenses charged, and must be made under oath before a magistrate judge. A defendant is entitled to the presumption of innocence until proven guilty. If convicted of this offense, however, Ripley faces a statutory sentence of not less than five years or more than 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and a lifetime of supervised release. The U.S. Attorney’s office has 30 days to present the matter to a grand jury for indictment.
This matter was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.projectsafechildhood.gov
The matter is being investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex C. Lewis.
http://www.justice.gov/usao/txn/PressRel11/ripley_PSC_compl_pr.html
*
Church aide gets 10 years in child porn case
Marty Sabota
Posted at 08:11 PM August 26, 2011
FORT WORTH — A 27-year-old Fort Worth man who did volunteer work with children at Trinity Chapel Church on Southwest Boulevard in Benbrook was sentenced Friday to 10 years in federal prison on a child pornography charge.
Prosecutors said Derek M. Ripley was sentenced on one count of distributing child pornography. He also was ordered to be under supervised release for life. He pleaded guilty in May.
Authorities say Ripley admitted to using the Internet to distribute three images of boys engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.
Copyright 2011 Fort Worth Star-Telegram
http://blogs.star-telegram.com/crime_time/2011/08/church-aide-gets-10-years-in-child-porn-case.html [no comments yet]
Greensburg, KS - 5/4/07
"Eternal vigilance is the price of Liberty."
from John Philpot Curran, Speech
upon the Right of Election, 1790
F6
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