Cox gets six months for church funds theft

July 26, 2017 by Staff Reports

Former Anderson County Commissioner and educator James Michael “Mike” Cox, admitted to stealing more than $100,000 from Longfield Baptist Church — a church he served as treasurer.

Cox admitted to the theft in June, 2016, following an indictment by the Anderson County Grand Jury.

Monday, Cox received his sentence: Six months in the Anderson County Detention Facility and 9-1/2 years of supervised probation.

He is to begin his jail sentence Friday, July 28.

Cox admitted to stealing the funds while he was treasurer at the church between 2011 and 2014.

He admitted to spending $30,000-plus at casinos in North Carolina. Anderson County Judge Don Elledge pronounced the sentence to Cox, also stipulation he (Cox) repay almost $90,000 to the church.

Cox will not be allowed in Longfield Baptist Church with the excpeuion of one last visit — to apologize to the congregation for the theft.

Cox, 68, served on Anderson County Commission for 30 years and retired as a teacher from the Anderson County School System.