A Denison man who pleaded guilty to misappropriating more than 12-thousand dollars in church funds is sentenced to two years probation in a special plea agreement. Sixty-year-old Gary Hansen was sentenced yesterday (Monday) in Crawford County District Court in Denison. Hansen had earlier admitted to misappropriating the money while he served as bookkeeper at the First United Methodist Church.
According to court documents, the misuse of funds occurred between December 11th of 2001 and August 26th of 2004. Hansen had previously been charged with first-degree theft, but entered a plea agreement in November that included as conditions a two-year deferred judgment while being placed on supervised probation. The agreement also mandated that Hansen make full restitution to the church, pay all court costs and probation fees and perform other conditions set forth by his probation officer. The prosecuting attorney for the case had confirmed that Hansen had already paid back all of the money that had been taken from the church prior to sentencing.