Jason Laws
ALBION—An Albion man has been charged with a Class X felony theft count and two Class 3 counts of forgery involving theft from a very popular Albion church.
Jason Laws, 44, who has been well-known in the Albion area as a manager at Borowiak’s IGA ,then operator of Frank & Shea’s BBQ in downtown Albion, has been charged with embezzling over $100,000 from the House of Prayer (Class X felony) as well as two counts of forgery (the Class 3 felonies). Our sources are indicating that the missing amount is hovering around $300,000. The charges state that the alleged activity dates back to July of this year.
The money was reportedly found missing a couple of months ago, and Edwards’ duly-elected state’s attorney, Mike Valentine, recused himself at that time, likely because Valentine’s secretary, Tracy Beuligmann, attends House of Prayer and whose brother has been the preacher at the church. David (“Rollover”) Rands from the appellate prosecutor’s office has been called in for prosecutorial duties.
Charges have been filed formally today, and Laws was taken into custody and lodged in the White County jail on a $300,000 bail ($30,000 cash bond). Jerry Crisel has been appointed as his attorney, and he’s set to appear in front of a judge on Tuesday, Dec. 18.