Man defrauds local church enbezzeling money

A Kanawha County man is accused of defrauding a church to cover months of utility bills has been charged, according to court records, Chad Lee Smarr, 47, of St. Albans has been charged with seven counts of fraudulent use of an access device, according to a criminal complaint filed in Kanawha County Magistrate Court. The complaint said investigators conducted an interview with the custodian of a credit union account owned by Harper Memorial Church. Records said the church had provided a check to Smarr to pay bills. According to records, Smarr admitted to using the account and routing number to pay utility bills online multiple times without permission from the church.