ATHENS, Tenn. — A man who robbed deacons at a small-town Tennessee church March 12 is in custody after making good on his word to return the day after the robbery. Allegedly wearing a knit mask and wielding a silver pistol, Billy Croft interrupted 21 laypeople and staff members during a monthly diaconate meeting at First Baptist Church, Athens, Tenn. After telling everyone to get on the floor, Croft made off with $120 and a promise to return the next day to talk to them if they agreed not to report the robbery to police.
Croft, 47, returned to the church March 13 and was subsequently arrested in the parking lot.
During the robbery, Pastor Mike Womack had prayed for Croft and told him he could return without risking arrest. But after Croft left, the deacons debated the ethical implications of not reporting the robbery. Womack and two deacons decided to tell retired assistant district attorney general Richard Newman, who reported the incident. Police charged Croft with one count of aggravated robbery.
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