Man suspected of robbing 2nd church

By Gan Matthews, NEWS 9

PAULS VALLY, Okla. -- Authorities in Garvin County said a man who has victimized one church allegedly attempted to rob another.

Last month 19-year-old Nate Christian pleaded guilty to forging checks totaling $7000. Those checks were drawn on the account of the Missionary Baptist Church in Katie.

"He was placed on probation and ordered to pay back the restitution as a part of recompense for the damage he caused to that church," Assistant District Attorney George Burnett said.

A few days later Christian showed up at the First Presbyterian Church in Pauls Valley looking for help.

"He needed a place to stay, and so I said, ‘Oh, I'll give you a place to stay for the evening. How about some work? Want to do some work for pocket change?' He said, ‘Sure, I'll do a little bit,'" Pastor Tom Buzbee said.

Buzbee gave him some yard work around the church and found him a room for the night.

That night Buzbee looked out from his house next door to the church and noticed that the curtains in his office were closed--something he never does. That made him suspicious.

"Police arrived on the scene and discovered some things awry, there were some doors that looked like had been opened or something of that nature," Burnett said.

Officers found Christian hiding behind a chair in the pastor's office. Buzbee said he's forgiven him.

"I feel sorry for him really," Buzbee said. "At this point my empathy is for him, and sympathy, with his parents and his grandmother and his family; he is in big trouble," Buzbee said.

While nothing was taken from the Presbyterian Church, Christian is charged with second-degree burglary with the intent to steal. He remains in the Garvin County jail in lieu of $20,000 bond.