A Hickory woman has pleaded no contest to embezzling $600,000 from a church where she was employed. Lisa Ann McCool entered the plea Monday in Catawba County Superior Court. McCool had worked for the last 25 years at the Highland Baptist Church in Hickory serving in multiple capacities, including as the church’s financial secretary The judge ordered McCool to serve 51 to 74 months in prison, and ordered her to pay the money back to the church.
