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Local pastor acquitted of theft charges

By JENALEA MYERS, Herald Night News Editor

Judge Eric Godderz admitted it didn’t make sense.

It didn’t make sense why Robert Kenton Mathews, an Ottawa pastor accused of theft, returned some valuable items after moving an elderly couple but neglected to return a cigar box of gold coins, he said.

It didn’t make sense that when law enforcement officials searched Mathews’ residence in June 2008 he led them to the vehicle where the coins were found.

But whether the case made sense didn’t matter Wednesday morning when Godderz acquitted Mathews in a directed verdict on the second day of a jury trial scheduled to last three days. Godderz ruled there was insufficient evidence for the case to move forward to a decision by 13 jury members.

“Was that a mistake, or was it theft,” Godderz said of the coins found during a search of Mathews’ vehicle. “There’s no evidence one way or another. It doesn’t make any sense.”

Mathews, who was accused of stealing more than $6,000 in gold coins from an elderly church member, is the current pastor of Grace Community Fellowship and former pastor of Westminster Presbyterian Church, both in Ottawa.

Mathews, who was surrounded by church and family members who broke into applause, declined to comment after the decision.

Godderz’ decision came after testimony Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday morning from area law enforcement officers, KBI and FBI agents, a family member of the alleged victim and a man who helped Mathews move the elderly couple.

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