Practice News Story 4: Court Case

Two Boys Charged with Church Break-in

Posted: 4:51 p.m., MST, Febuary 7, 2007

LOGAN, Utah - The charges were finally been passed down in the January 31st break in of a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints chapel. Jim Michaels was arrested and charged with a misdemeanor count of breaking and entering, vandalism, and a felony charge of burglary. Mr. Michaels pleaded not guilty in todays preliminary court hearing. Defense attorney Robbie Cochran said that his client would keep his plea of innocence until the March 21st hearing according to his knowledge. His accomplice, a minor whose name has not been released, was arrested at the same time as Mr. Michaels, but has not been charged with any thing at this time. District Attorney Noel Mayfeild said that she had both fingerprint, and past criminal history evidence to bring appropriate charges to Mr. Michaels. The two men were arrested February 3, 2007, just four days after the break in. According to Sheriff deputy Geoffery Hasty they had already sold the stolen computers to a local pawnshop. Both men were at Mr. Michaels home when the police arrested them, Sheriff Hasty said it was a, “peaceful apprehension.” Mr. Michaels posted bond at 5,000 dollars to get out of his jail time.
The two men came in through the open window of Bishop Lawrence Shirks office and stole two computers. As they were trying to leave the building they dropped the monitors in the front foyer, shattering both. This is what Evelyn Braithwait heard early January 31. Evelyn even knew the exact time of the crime, “I sat up and looked at the clock, it was 1:45 a.m.”
Robert Knotz, the local building maintenance manager came by the church at around six o’clock later that morning to fix some damaged ceiling tiles. When he walked through the door there on the floor sat the two broken computer monitors. He immediately called the police. According to Mr. Shirk both computers in his office held no crucial personal information. He told reporters that the computers only held his own personal documents and letters, but nothing that could be used in identify theft.
Evelyn Braithwait has lived in the area for over fifty years, and has never seen something like this. Thinking about the break-in she commented, “I feel pretty safe here.” There are no suspects at this time.