Devin Cyrus
A former South Carolina pastor already charged with sexually assaulting a 13-year-old student is now accused of embezzling massive amount of money from a North Carolina church Via Horry County Mugs/Facebook

A 23-year-old former North Carolina pastor, already facing a criminal sexual conduct charge involving a middle school student, has now been arrested on 16 felony counts of embezzling roughly $58,000 (approximately £45,600) from a Baptist church, authorities said.

Devin Cyrus Carroll, of Conway, South Carolina, was taken into custody last week over the alleged theft from Happy Home Baptist Church in Nakina, North Carolina, according to Baptist Press.

The embezzlement arrest comes roughly a year after Carroll was charged in July 2025 with third-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor under 16, stemming from an incident at Conway Middle School where he had worked as an in-school suspension aide.

Investigators allege he grabbed a 13-year-old student's private parts 'in a lewd and lascivious manner with the intent of arousal', though that case remains separate from the North Carolina financial charges.

Pastor Faces Embezzlement Charges Over Church Funds

Authorities allege that funds were misappropriated from Happy Home Baptist Church on or around 27 February 2024.

According to court records cited by Baptist Press, Carroll faces 16 felony counts connected to the alleged theft of $57,934.13 (approximately £45,600).

Investigators claim that nearly $43,000 (£33,900) across seven of these counts was directed towards paying off outstanding balances with Advance America, a provider of payday loans and short-term credit products.

The remaining charges reportedly stem from the alleged use of church funds to cover a variety of personal costs, including restaurant orders, a water park visit, horseback riding, mobile phone bills, veterinary care for a pet dog, and personal legal fees.

Following his arrest, Carroll was appointed a public defender for his initial court appearance and is currently being held on a $75,000 (£59,000) secured bond. He is next scheduled to appear in court on 17 September.

Happy Home Baptist Church, the congregation he previously served, is affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention, the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina, and the Dock Missionary Baptist Association.

Minor Assault Allegations Predate Financial Charges

As South Carolina authorities proceed with their investigation into these serious allegations, the legal proceedings remain entirely separate from the financial probe initiated in North Carolina.

Given that the third-degree criminal sexual conduct charges involve a minor, the case carries significant statutory weight.

Nevertheless, standard judicial protocols dictate that Carroll maintains the absolute presumption of innocence regarding all current accusations until the evidence is formally examined and a verdict is reached in a court of law.

The sexual misconduct allegation against Carroll, filed in Horry County, South Carolina, in July 2025, describes an incident that reportedly occurred in late May of that year, while Carroll was employed by Horry County Schools.

He had already tendered his resignation in January 2025, with an effective date of June 7, 2025, meaning he was working out his notice period when the alleged assault took place.

A former Conway Middle School student, speaking to WMBF, said she was not surprised when the charges emerged.

She described Carroll as having been 'very flirtatious' with classmates during his time at the school.

'When you're this young, it doesn't really register in your mind that people you're interacting with on a daily basis are actually really weird and do not have the right intentions in their mind', she told the news outlet.

No trial date has been set for the sexual misconduct charge. The financial and sexual misconduct cases fall under different state jurisdictions and will be prosecuted separately.

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