A Story City woman voluntarily turned herself into Ames Police Thursday after three warrants were issued for her arrest relating to the discovery of $138,000 in misappropriated funds from the First United Methodist Church in Ames, said Ames Police Cmdr. Jim Robinson.

Janine Lamb, 37, 341 Elm Ave., is charged with first-degree theft and fraudulent practices — both class C felonies — and ongoing criminal conduct, a class B felony.

During the course of the police investigation, it was found that more than $138,000 had been misappropriated from the church over a three-year period, from February 2000 through April 2003, according to a statement issued by the Ames Police Department.

The news release stated Lamb committed these offenses by issuing checks from the church and depositing the funds into her personal account without authorization.

Lamb was the business manager of the First United Methodist Church, 516 Kellogg Ave., from late 1997 until May 2003, when she resigned from the position, said Fred Lewis, senior pastor of the First United Methodist Church.

“It’s a normal procedure to do a review of the books before hiring someone new,” Lewis said. “The committee of finance hired independent auditors and this team reported items of concern which we reported to an attorney. On the advice of the attorney, we then contacted the police.”

Lewis said money was taken from church accounts and funds related to the church foundation. He said there was “shock and surprise” in response to the news of stolen funds.

“The missing money will certainly impact what we wanted to do in ministries and in missions,” Lewis said.

“Some of the money will be recouped by insurance. We’ve taken new safeguards and steps that will help us become better stewards.”

Lewis said, as a church, the congregation is “more worried about the emotional and spiritual well-being of Ms. Lamb.”

Robinson said Lamb is currently being held on $130,000 bond and will soon appear before a judge to determine whether she will be released.