The Athens man accused of stealing $107,554 from Habitat for Humanity, and effectively ending the organization in Limestone County, will be tried before the end of the year, an official said.

Four and a half years have passed since William Gregory Miller, 57, of 513 S. Beaty St., was first accused of stealing money from the faith-based organization in 2014 while serving as its executive director.

Investigators say Miller took out a bank loan as the director and used the money for expenses that were not Habitat related, including a Gulf Shores condominium, concert tickets, fuel for his personal vehicle, clothing, a crossbow, luggage, food, vehicle repairs and other items.

Investigators say Miller covered the unauthorized purchases for Habitat by writing checks for the credit card bills himself, Athens Police Chief Floyd Johnson has said.

“Miller also moved money from one Habitat account to another without the board’s authorization to do so,” Johnson said. “This was done in an attempt to conceal his unauthorized credit card charges.”

Habitat for Humanity officials noticed “major issues with the organization’s accounts” after Miller resigned in March 2014, Johnson said. He had been appointed executive director in September 2011.

The statue of limitations on a theft is three years, meaning the law forbids prosecutors from charging a person with a theft older than three years at the time it is discovered.

Miller, who has remained free on bail, was first arrested Sept. 8, 2014, then later indicted on two counts of first-degree theft and one count of second-degree forgery. One count of theft unrelated to Habitat has already been settled.

A Nov. 5 trial date had been set last year for Miller but nothing came of it.

Jones has said he hopes Miller will accept the prosecution’s plea offer. If not, they have their expert witness waiting to testify.

“It is always better to recoup the restitution up front in a theft case, if possible,” Jones said. “If Miller is convicted and sent to prison, then the victim will not receive any funds until he gets out.”

If Miller is sentenced to probation, the victim would receive a monthly payment for an extended period due to the amount, Jones said.

At least twice the case had been settled, but each time Miller backed out of the settlement when it was time to pay restitution up front, Jones said.

Miller changed lawyers last year and is now represented by John Totten of Athens.

Jones said Thursday his office is working with Totten to resolve the case. He also said the case would be cleared before the end of the year.