Suit accuses preacher of manipulating Holly Hill church

By JIM HAUG
Staff Writer

HOLLY HILL -- A former preacher charged with exploiting an elderly widow handpicked his successor at Ridgewood Avenue Community Church in violation of church bylaws.

Since the arrest of the Rev. Robert Riddle, the Rev. Gabriel Varga has manipulated the congregation by tossing out critics and influencing church votes by recruiting people from his homeless ministry, according to a lawsuit filed by longtime church members Rubye Morgan and Jim Swilley.

As trustees, Morgan and Swilley have also transferred title of the church to the Florida Baptist Convention as an interim action.

Members are also concerned that Riddle could return if he posts $50,000 bail and is released from the Volusia County Branch Jail. Riddle was extradited this week from his home state of Georgia.

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Varga said the Southern Baptists could have done more to warn church members about Riddle, who has a criminal record from Alabama and Georgia.

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