HOLLAND, MI (WHTC-AM/FM, Feb. 13, 2026) – A Holland church is hoping a legal episode involving its leadership can be closed now.
On Thursday, 58th District Court Judge Brad Knoll sentenced Jessica Herald to fines totaling $1,650 dollars. She had pleaded no contest to three misdemeanor counts of embezzlement from $200 to $999, with a felony embezzlement count against her dropped as part of an agreement with Ottawa County prosecutors.
Herald and her husband Trenton, who are the co-pastors of City Hill Church, allegedly used over $100,000 of the congregation’s money for a variety of personal purposes. Trenton Herald did not contest the felony embezzlement count against him, and he was sentenced on Monday by 20th Circuit Court Judge Jon Hulsing to two years of probation, along with a yet-to-be-specified amount of restitution.
Church members expressed forgiveness for the couple in court documents submitted prior to sentencing, and the Heralds are still listed as pastors of that congregation. Court records showed that Jessica Herald had paid all fines and fees levied against her by Judge Knoll before she left the 58th District Courthouse, avoiding a 32-day jail sentence if she failed to do so within 30 days.
Comments