Published: March 15, 2007 02:18 pm         

Robbery suspect caught when he returns to talk to preacher victim

ATHENS — The prayers of a preacher helped persuade a pistol-wielding man who held up a deacons meeting to leave for $120 and a promise to meet the next day _ when the police were at hand to arrest the suspect.

Billy Croft, 47, of Athens, was charged Tuesday by city police with one count of aggravated robbery. When arrested at the First Baptist Church, he was carrying a pellet gun authorities think was used in the holdup.

Police said 21 men were meeting in the church Monday night and confronted by a man carrying a pistol and wearing a stocking cap mask.

The Rev. Mike Womack said he asked the intruder how he could help him. The man said he was hungry and needed money. Womack said he moved toward the man, putting himself between the intruder and the deacons.

"I had two thoughts on my mind when I saw the gun," Womack said in a story published Wednesday by The Daily Post-Athenian newspaper. "I had to get myself in between him and the men, and I needed to talk to him."

Womack asked the man if he could pray for him. When the man said he could, Womack asked for his name and the man responded with "Bobby."

Womack said he put his hand on the man's shoulder and began praying for him. The man then said he would leave for $100.

A quick collection totaling about $120 was handed over. When asked by Womack if he would like to talk about his problems, the bandit asked the pastor if he would be in the church at 2 p.m. the next day.

The bandit made the group promise not to call police and then left.

"We were scared to death," Womack said.

The pastor didn't call police but told retired District Attorney Richard Newman what had happened. Newman later told Womack that he had informed the police.

Detective Bill Matthews said officers staked out the church building early Tuesday afternoon while Womack sent his staff home.

At 3:15 p.m., the man arrived at the church. Womack took him into the church's office, where he said the man made statements about the night before that only the robber would know. Officers then entered and arrested him.

Matthews said Croft was a career criminal and could face more charges.

Croft was in jail awaiting a Thursday arraignment.