Earlier this week, Yawn Doc published a lengthy and patently snoozy exposé about an embezzlement investigation involving former Performing Arts Council of Edmond (a.k.a. PACE) president Kyle Owen.
The gist of the story is that Kyle – who is also the “Director of Worship Arts” for New Covenant United Methodist Church in Edmond – allegedly made more than 100 personal charges totaling nearly $12,000 on the booster club’s dime while serving as its President in 2023 and 2024.
The money was supposed to support Edmond students and their arts programs, but instead it covered things like tires, cookies, and a suspicious number of Venmo payments to his daughters. Surprisingly, though, not one transaction involved denim.
That pic of Captain Denim is from Kyle’s church website bio. It’s like he’s wearing the dad denim equivalent of mom jeans, only less cool.
When first confronted with the questionable transactions mentioned above, Kyle chalked it up to “carelessness.” After some talks, emails and possible threats, he eventually paid back the money without admitting to guilt or publicly apologizing for taking money meant for kids.
Here’s how it all went down, according to a police report filed by the group’s new president:
Yep, he claimed he “accidentally” made the transactions due to carelessness. That's a lame excuse, but in all fairness to Kyle, since he’s active in the church, he can’t really blame a gambling, sex or drug addiction, otherwise he’d be in real trouble!
Plus, why admit guilt when making everyone square will keep you out of trouble?
Man, imagine how different the world would be if everyone had the same view on theft as PACE. We wouldn’t even have to call it stealing anymore. Just petty or nonconsensual borrowing.
According to Non Doc, some of the parents got mad that Owen was let off the hook with not even a slap on the wrist. They seem to think his status as a church leader may have had something to do with the preferential treatment he received:
April Dinger served as PACE’s treasurer from May 5 until June 22 and helped identify the concerning transactions. While she emphasized a great appreciation for PACE, Edmond Public Schools and the students involved in arts classes, Dinger said she resigned as treasurer amid frustration with how the organization was responding to the financial fiasco.
“Nothing is going to get better if we don’t keep people accountable,” Dinger said. “And I’m not going to be afraid of being that person that holds people accountable, because all of this is so wrong. It’s so wrong.”...
Despite Owen repaying the funds, Dinger said he has been “nonchalant” and has not seemed to acknowledge the problems he caused.
“He did not even admit to any of this. He is not sorry, and I think that is part of what really does bother (me),” she said. “I am not trying to destroy PACE. I am literally just trying to get accountability from someone that stole from our children.”
Let this be a note to all people who take money from schoolkids – make sure you do it while working for Ryan Walters. It’s more legal that way.
In the meantime, we’ll keep an eye on this denim-clad “worship arts” grifter and his holy appetite for other people’s money – hopefully a safe distance from New Covenant’s next bake sale.
Stay with The Lost Ogle. We’ll keep you advised.
