Search at Allred Home Recovers Documents, Cell Phone

Sallisaw Police confiscated documents, notes, folders and a cell phone when they served a search warrant at the home of Jeffery Scott Allred on Lennington Road on Nov. 23.

According to the affidavit for a search warrant, filed with the Sequoyah County Clerk’s Office Tuesday, investigators were searching for any documents, records or merchandise that may be related to the alleged embezzlement Allred is accused of from Journey Church.

The return search warrant lists the items confiscated were documents from EBay, additional documents, a note pad and book with writing about the crime, a folder containing other documents and a cell phone.

According to the search warrant affidavit investigators were also searching for a golf cart with accessories, a microwave, dishwasher, stove, television, train level crossing set and a container train, but that merchandise was not on the list of confiscated items.

Allred, the former minister at Journey Church in Sallisaw was charged with a felony count of embezzlement on Nov. 13 in Sequoyah County District Court in Sallisaw. He entered a not guilty plea to the charge.

Allred, who will celebrate his 42nd birthday on Dec. 5, is accused of embezzling more than $10,000 from the church. He is free on a $7,500 bond.

In a connected civil case, in which the church is suing Allred for more than $50,000, the former pastor’s attorney filed an answer to the church’s allegations, denying the allegations.

In that filing, Allred admits he served as the lead pastor at Journey Church from June 2005 to August 2015 and admits he was issued a credit card, along with other staff members, but says the monthly statements were submitted to and reviewed by the church officers and directors.

Allred denies he used the credit card to purchase items he then sold on EBay or used any items for his own personal use and enjoyment. He denies he intended to defraud the members of the church and that his actions caused the church financial losses.

In the affirmative, the filing states, “Defendant (Allred) has not acted toward Plaintiff (church) with malice or with willful, wanton or reckless disregard. . . and Defendant is not liable for punitive damages as prayed for in Plaintiff’s Petition.”

Allred resigned as minister at Journey Church on Aug. 14.

Sally Maxwell, Senior News Director

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