Pastor Arrested in Church Theft Case

One year after church officials discovered that a Palmdale congregation had been bilked out of more than $200,000, a Lutheran pastor from Camarillo was behind bars Thursday accused of grand theft in the case, authorities said.

The Rev. David C. Molstre, pastor of the Camarillo Lutheran Church, is suspected of stealing $218,000 from the Shepherd of the Valley Free Lutheran Church, where he served as pastor from 1989 to 1994, authorities said.

Molstre, 56, was arrested Tuesday night by Ventura County sheriff’s deputies at his home in the 3700 block of Germain Street, and is expected to be handed over to Los Angeles County law enforcement officials next week.

On Thursday, he was being held on $218,000 bail, the same amount he is suspected of stealing.

The arrest ended a yearlong investigation by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

Church officials said the losses from the Shepherd of the Valley church were not discovered until 1996.

Pastor Paul Nash, mission director for the Assn. Of Free Lutheran Congregations in Minneapolis, said church officials notified authorities immediately and have been cooperating in the investigation.

Nash said Molstre later admitted to stealing the money and was removed from association clergy roster in January 1996 for misappropriation of church funds.

According to Nash, Molstre was ordained a Lutheran pastor in 1967, and began leading the Palmdale congregation in 1989. He remained there until 1994, when he took over the Camarillo congregation, Nash said.

Authorities said the allegations against Molstre do not involve his service at the Camarillo church.