By Our Reporter
A Maryland pastor is facing multiple felony charges after allegedly embezzling substantial funds from his congregation to finance personal spending, including food deliveries and online sports betting, according to court documents filed in Harford County Circuit Court.
Daniel J. Champ, 42, who served as pastor of First Baptist Church in Bel Air, has been charged with four counts of theft over $100,000 and one count of embezzlement, court records confirm. He was released on a $15,000 bond as he awaits further legal proceedings.
The allegations came to light following a financial review by church officials, who reportedly discovered irregular bank charges and missing funds last October. The unauthorized activity is said to have spanned a five-year period — from January 2019 through 2024, according to a report by WJZ-TV, CBS’s Baltimore affiliate.
Investigators allege that Champ used church accounts to pay for personal expenses including transactions through DoorDash, PayPal, and sports betting platforms. The total amount misappropriated has not been publicly disclosed but is believed to exceed several hundred thousand dollars.
As of this week, First Baptist Church’s website has been taken down, and the listed phone number is no longer in service. According to the church’s Facebook page, Champ’s last sermon was delivered on Sunday, September 8.
A member of the congregation, who requested anonymity, told WJZ that church leadership has yet to formally address the allegations with the wider congregation. “The money that went to the church belonged to the people,” the member said. “Why weren’t they honest? Why didn’t they just tell people?”
In response to the emerging scandal, church leaders have reportedly removed Champ’s access to church bank accounts and given him 60 days to vacate the residence on church-owned property, WJZ added.
At the time of this report, no public statement had been released by Champ or legal representatives. The case remains under investigation, and it is unclear whether additional charges may follow.