Former pastor pleads guilty to amended charges he misused church funds

By JIM BROOKS
Nelson County Gazette / WBRT Radio

DYLAN MAYS

Saturday, June 28, 2014, 2:30 p.m. — The former pastor of Bardstown Baptist Church entered pleaded guilty Friday to amended charges he used church funds to purchase at least $80,000 on guns, electronics and other items for his personal use.

On Friday, Dylan Jonathan Mays, 43, pleaded guilty to amended charges of theft by unlawful taking over $500 and unlawful access to a computer in Nelson Circuit Court. Prosecutors are recommending 4 years in prison on each charge to be served consecutively for a total of 8 years. Prosecutors are recommending the charges be probated for five years as long as Mays meets the requirements of the probation agreement.

Those requirements include serving 100 days in jail, and making restitution to Bardstown Baptist Church. He must pay $30,000 by Sept. 1, 2014, and an additional $10,000 within six months. Mays was also ordered to forfeit the items that were seized as evidence in the case and return them to the church.

Mays resigned prior to his indictment in November after serving eight years as the church’s pastor. Prosecutors said Mays began illegally using the credit cards in 2009 and did not stop until he resigned in Oct. 2013.

Final sentencing was set for Aug. 1 in Nelson Circuit Court.

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