Guilty Plea in Huntersville School Embezzlement Case

CHARLOTTE, NC — The former Headmaster of a Huntersville Christian school admitted he stole millions of dollars meant for students in federal court Thursday.

Wayne Parker, Jr. pleaded guilty to wire fraud. It was a plea deal admitting he ripped off students, parents and church members of $9 million from at least 2000-2014.

Parker ignored questions as he left the courthouse Thursday.

He faces a maximum of 20 years in prison for stealing from SouthLake Christian Academy and the affiliated church.

His attorney, Rob Heroy, had no comment.

As part of the plea deal, prosecutors are suggesting seven to nine years in prison and want him to pay back millions.

“You don’t expect it at any church, but it happens,” said Jim Hamlen.

Hamlen is one of Parker’s victims. He donated to the church and sent his children to the private school.

“The school always was run on kind of a shoe string budget,” said Hamlen.

Prosecutors say Parker forced pay cuts on teachers while he built two large homes, went on international vacations, bought boats, property, gold and silver.

“It went on like this for 14 years,” said Hamlen. “The men who oversaw the church should have known.”

Prosecutors say Parker kept an unnamed co-conspirator quiet by paying him off.

Prosecutors say Parker opened 29 checking accounts, 26 credit cards, seven loans, forged documents showing fake audits and destroyed evidence once the church became suspicious in 2014.

“When questions began to be asked, they couldn’t be answered,” said Hamlen.

Parker’s been through this before. Court documents say he was convicted of tax fraud in 1990 when he was an accountant.

He took volunteered to be treasurer at the church in 1991.

“Everyone was kind of in shock,” said Hamlen.

Hamlen left the church and school because of the scandal.

SouthLake says its “The Administration has spent the last two years implementing policies, procedures, and oversight to provide effective stewardship and protection of SouthLake Christian Academy’s assets.

With the help of the F.B.I., some money has been recovered and returned to the Academy and SouthLake Presbyterian Church.”

The judge banned Parker from future jobs that give him access to money.

Prosecutors declined to comment until sentencing is over. That date has not been set.