GBI: Church treasurer and Dublin city clerk arrested in Laurens County theft case

Investigators say 35-year-old Heather Browning wrote and cashed false checks from Cedar Grove Methodist Church’s bank accounts.

UPDATE: Dublin Mayor Joshua Kight released the following statement Tuesday afternoon:

“The City has been notified of the arrest of Heather Browning, City Clerk, regarding an alleged theft concerning her church. Ms. Browning submitted her resignation, which was immediately accepted by the Mayor effective September 29, 2025. The charges do not involve the city. The clerk’s responsibilities include records keeping, attesting legal documents, and keeping the official minutes of council meetings. At no time has she had access to any of the City’s banking accounts. The Mayor and Council will be appointing an interim city clerk until a permanent replacement can be made.”

ORIGINAL STORY:

DUBLIN, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – A Dublin woman is facing theft charges after investigators say she stole money from church bank accounts.

According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, agents arrested 35-year-old Heather Browning Tuesday. She’s charged with theft by deception.

The GBI said the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office requested its assistance on Monday after members of Cedar Grove Methodist Church in Alamo reported money missing from their accounts. Investigators determined Browning, who served as the church treasurer, “breached her fiduciary duty by falsely writing and cashing checks from the bank accounts of Cedar Grove Methodist Church.”

The GBI says Browning is also the City of Dublin’s Clerk. We’ve reached out to the City of Dublin for comment and are awaiting a response.

Browning was booked into the Laurens County Detention Center.