A Meeker couple has been arrested and charged with embezzling more than $170,000 from a Meeker church they had pastored.
Formal charges of embezzlement were filed Oct. 29 in Lincoln County District Count against Michael J. Hall and Vickie Marie Hall.
Their bond has been set at $10,000 each and they each are to make their initial appearance at 9 a.m. Nov. 13.
The charges allege that between Jan. 1, 2024, and Oct. 31, 2024, that the sum of $172,651,95 was fraudulently appropriated by the Halls. The information states that money belonged to Living Waters Pentecostal Church and had been entrusted to the Halls.
According to the Pentecostal Church of God web site, Hall has served as district bishop for the deomination as well as pastor of Living Waters Pentecostal Church.
According to information contained in a probable cause affidavit filed by investigators, the following checks were written without approval by the board and members.
Check dated 9/26/2024 for $50,000.
Check date 6/11/2024 for $19,811 to Brad Perry Construction.
Check dated 6/11/2024 for $19,811 to Brad Perry Construction.
Check dated 7/2/2024 for $18,750 to Brad Perry Construction. Total amount $58,372.
The information claims a metal building was built on Hall’s property without the church’s knowledge after he reportedly was told the church would not build him a new building.
A check dated 3/17/2023 $3,000 to Justin and Angelina Hall, Hall’s son.
Acheck dated 12/8/2023 $350 to Edward Cunning- ham, and two others written on12/8/2023 to Joseph Mullens and Joe Woody Johnson, all District board members.
A check dated 3/28/24 to R.J. Hulstine for $4,000 for work done on Bishop Hall’s residence.
Check dated 7/29/2024 to R.J. Hulstine.
Check dated 6/27/2024 for $3,235.53 to Communication Federal Credit Union truck payoff.
Check dated 7/26/2019 for $4,000 for concrete work done at Hall’s residence.
Direct payment church debit card $47,334.56 Hall’s Discover Credit card.
Check dated 12/26/2022 Select auto sales $19,995 purchased vehicle for Hall’s children.
Check for $13,500 to Billy Houston, reason unknown, without board approval.
$22,135 to Joe Oden Ministries, reason unknown and without board approval.
Cash withdraw of $17,445 for Hall purchasing a Dodge pickup.
Total unapproved purchases and withdraws of $244,929.09.
According to the affi davit, these figures don’t include the regular use of the church’s debit card purchases, groceries, fuel, household furnishings, over nearly six years that Bishop Hall was pastor and Vickie Hall was secretary/treasurer of Living Waters Church.
The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office began its investigation of the matter in April of 2025.
According to the affidavit, Investigator Carl Monk met with the present pastor, Jerry Beeson, and his wife, Sheri, of Living Waters Pentecostal Church in Meeker and was informed he was hired as the new pastor of the church in October of 2024.
Investigators state in the affidavit that information provided by Beeson shows that beginning from September of 2018 through October 2024, when Pastor Michael Hall and Vickie began their time at Living Waters they overspent based on 100 percent of monthly deposits if no funds were designated for any other activities, mission, benevolence fund, etc.
In 2018, over expenditures were $2,178.22.
In 2019, over expenditures were $2,012.36. It was noted during 2019 a church member donated for the new parking lot for the church $47,000 but according to the affidavit, it appears to be deposited and used as offering so Hall could receive half when the funds were earmarked as parking funds only.
According to the affi davit, there were not over expenditures in years 2020 and 2021 but there were questionable checks and cash withdraws from the church funds.
In 2022 over expenditures were $55,537.94. That year the same church member donated $23,500 for the women’s bathroom remodel.
Those funds were deposited, but seems to be used as offering so Hall could receive half as well.
In 2023, over expenditures amounted to $47,313.05.
In 2024, they amounted to $53,161.82.