Pastor charged with forgery against congregation member

LOXLEY, Ala. (WALA) - Tim Amey is the pastor of a Loxley church.

He also served as assistant principal of a Baldwin County High School.

Now, Daphne Police have charged him with ten felony counts of forgery and identity theft. Amey was arrested on Wednesday and faces a $75,000 bond for the charges.

A Loxley man said Amey swindled him out of about $45,000 by forging his signature as a co-signer for student loans.

George Jerkins said his odyssey began last summer when he tried to buy two tractors, and the business ran a credit check.

Jerkins said, "They said, 'You got these loans.' I said, 'Wait a minute now, I'm too old to even go past the school, let alone go to school.' I don't know where these came from."

Daphne Police said Amey forged Jerkins signature as a co-signer for about $45,000 dollars worth of student loans several years ago, and the crime is now coming to light after months of investigation.

Daphne Police also said there could be other victims besides Jerkins.

Sergeant Brian Gulsby said, "I've never seen anything quite like this, exactly."

And, Jerkins said Amey wasn't a total stranger.

He said, "They asked me, 'Did I know the loan maker?' and I said, 'Sure, I know him. He's the pastor of my church.' "

Amey has also been an assistant principal of Daphne High School.

School system officials said he was placed on paid administrative leave a year ago.

Jerkins also showed us paperwork he has.

He said, "This is supposed to be my signature. That's forged."

Amey even listed Jerkins as his parent, according to the victim.

When asked what went through his mind when he heard he was swindled, Jerkins said, "I hope they don't put me in jail for that, but, I wanted to kill that sucker."

Detectives offer all of us advice.

Gulsby said, "You should run a credit history on yourself at least once a year."

The Federal Trade Commission website offers a service that allows you to check your credit report for free one time per year.

Jerkins said, "Of all the folks, I could understand if it was just a nobody from the streets. But, here's a person that I had trusted, I had my full confidence in, and he does this type of thing."