Rosanne Stone, the former bookkeeper at the Church of the Advent, Tallahassee, Fla., turned herself in to the Leon County Sheriff’s Office Feb. 21 after a warrant for her arrest was issued. She was charged with grand theft and money laundering.
 
The sheriff’s office said Ms. Stone stole more than $500,000 over four years, a period which coincides with an acrimonious period that culminated in a split of the parish in 2006. Officials from the Diocese of Florida declined to comment while the investigation continues.
 
In December, an accountant found discrepancies while performing the first independent audit of parish finances in more than 10 years. According to the sheriff’s office, Ms. Stone rented three storage units to store antiques, jewelry and home furnishings purchased with church funds on eBay.
 
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