Church Camp Money Embezzlement Lands Benton Man in Jail in Arkansas

Bryant, AR: The authorities in Bryant arrested a man from Benton this week for stealing more than $23,000 from the church camp where he worked in western Arkansas.
A Bryant police report says that on March 19, the Saline County prosecutor told police about criminal charges of theft against Phillip Batchelor, 45, who works at the National Camp at Bogg Springs. This led to an investigation by a detective in Bryant.
Four camp workers told the police that Batchelor stole $23,790.76 from the camp’s bank account over the last two years while he was treasurer.
An online list of inmates showed that Batchelor was arrested and taken to the Saline County jail on Monday. He was freed on Wednesday afternoon.
Batchelor worked as a paraprofessional at Harmony Grove Junior High School and now leads the youth group at Park Place Baptist Church in Bryant. Bryant Police officers caught him early Monday morning, April 29, 2024. They took him to the Saline County Jail at 8:15 a.m. and haven’t set his bond yet.
A list of inmates shows that Batchelor is charged with one felony count of theft of goods worth more than $2,500.
The report says the stolen money was used to buy different things inside and outside the county.