Mount Olive Church Leaders Charged With Embezzling Nearly $90,000

MOUNT OLIVE, Miss. (WDAM) – Stricjavvar Strickland, the pastor of Galilee Missionary Baptist Church, along with deacon Armond Barnes, has been charged with embezzlement following allegations of misappropriating nearly $90,000 from church funds. The charges were filed after the church’s finance committee raised concerns about discrepancies in financial records.

The two church leaders surrendered to authorities on Tuesday, and their bonds were set the following day, with Strickland’s bond at $150,000 and Barnes’ at $75,000.

Covington County Sheriff Darrell Perkins stated, “Back in October of 2024, our office was approached by a finance committee from Galilee Missionary Baptist Church… (they) indicated that the books were not adding up and had discrepancies on the bank account.” He noted that this prompted an investigation that took several months to resolve.

Strickland, who relocated to Mississippi from Michigan, has a controversial past. According to multiple reports, he previously faced serious allegations in Michigan involving a plea deal connected to accusations of inappropriate conduct with teenage boys and his wife. Although he maintained his innocence regarding these charges, he took the plea deal to prioritize his family and did not register as a sex offender.

This recent legal trouble marks a significant chapter in Strickland’s life, as the community grapples with the implications of these allegations. The church community will await further developments as the case proceeds through the legal system.