BINGHAM -- The treasurer at the First Congregational Church of Bingham was arrested this week on a felony theft charge for allegedly bilking the church out of more than $80,000 over the past four years, police said Wednesday.

Olivia Beane, 30, of 406 Stream Road, Moscow, allegedly wrote checks from accounts from the church on Meadow Street and took money from the Sunday service offerings, Maine State Police Trooper Randy Keaten said.

"She was the treasurer," Keaten said. "She was hired by the church as the treasurer and over the course of the last four years wrote herself $87,000 in payments."

Keaten said church officials became suspicious when financial accounts appeared to be incorrect and went to State Police with documents to review on Monday of this week.

"Looking at their financial losses recently, they started to wonder, and that's when they got a full record of all their accounts and found the volume she had been writing to herself," Keaten said.

Beane, who works at a tax preparation office on Madison Avenue in Skowhegan, was interviewed by investigators on Tuesday and was arrested at State Police Troop C Barracks Tuesday morning.

The charge is a Class B felony, punishable with a conviction in court by up to 10 years in prison, along with possible fines and restitution.

"She admitted to that and also to taking money from the weekly till, from the collections," the trooper said.

Keaten said Beane told investigators she and her family have been experiencing financially hard times. He said Beane cooperated with the investigation.

Beane was arrested and taken to the county jail in Skowhegan. She later was bailed on $500 cash and was released, according to jail records.

Keaten said State Police followed up the interview with Beane and conducted a search warrant at her Moscow home to recover financial documents regard the church and her own finances.

Bank statements, canceled checks and a computer, online data and software were seized in the search, the trooper said.

Carleton Barnes, chairman of the church's Prudential Committee, which handles church finances, said no one saw this coming.

Church members were trusting, he said.

"This is a very difficult situation for everyone involved and we will continue to pray for Olivia and her family, our community and for our church," Barnes said Wednesday evening. "Just as the Scripture describes Christ as giving forgiveness, our church is trying to exhibit that same grace during this difficult time.

"Looking forward, our church is currently working with professionals to create policies within the church to ensure that something like this cannot happen again. We hope that other small town churches like ours can learn from our experience so it does not happen to anyone else."

Barnes said a special meeting of the First Congregational Church of Bingham has been set for this coming Sunday after regular services.

Keaten said investigators are working on possible restitution.

Barnes said it is too early in the case to have any information on getting any of the money back.

He said the church is doubly troubled this summer in having lost their pastor of 30-plus years. Pastor Doug Drown resigned in June.

Beane is scheduled to be arraigned on the felony theft charge Nov. 5 at Somerset County Superior Court in Skowhegan.

Doug Harlow -- 474-9534 ext. 342

dharlow@centralmaine.com