One church community in Augusta County is reeling after its treasurer allegedly embezzled at least $24,000.

The Augusta County Sheriff's Office says the embezzlement has been going on for years and the Augusta Springs United Methodist Church only recently became suspicious.

Investigator Aaron Le Veck says 66-year-old Steven Sprouse, the church's treasurer, cashed 19 checks from January 2006 to September 2008.

He says, "It had been a rumor among the church community. They had told me that they understood he opened a second account."

That's also what Sprouse told Le Veck in a one-on-one interview, but it wasn't the case. The pastor of the church began to ask questions when checks started to bounce.

Le Veck says, "Church officials confronted the treasurer, as far as why this might be. He assured them that it was a mistake he could rectify, but never did, which drew more suspicions that church members involved in finances requested that Mr. Sprouse turn over the books, which he never did."

What's more distressing for the church community is it recently received a $30,000 donation from a deceased member. Le Veck says the pastor checked the bank account at one point and found just $7.

"Some of the people on the finance committees said that there should not be any instances where cash checks should be issued on that account," says Le Veck.

Sprouse has been released on bond and faces six counts of embezzlement. Le Veck says they're trying to determine what he did with the money.

Sprouse is scheduled to be in court to appoint an attorney February 9.