Former Church Leader Can Avoid Jail By Repaying Stolen Funds

A former Gwinnett County planning official can avoid jail time if he returns the 326,000 he is accused of stealing from a local church, according to a Gwinnett Daily Post report

Floy Jumper has paid back about $100,000 of the money to Peachtree Corners Presbyterian Church. If he returns the rest within four years, a Gwinnett County judge has agreed to suspend his three-year sentence, officials told the Post.

"It was a sinful act, and it was not the way I was raised," Jumper was quoted as saying. I'm just thankful I have the opportunity to do what's right."

Jumper was first arrested in November 2010, following an investigation that began in August 2010, reported the AJC. He resigned from his planning commission seat the day before the church filed a police report, the AJC also reports.