Published: February 04, 2009 07:30 am      

Alleged church burglars caught

Three teens charged

By Tom Grace
Cooperstown News Bureau

Three Otsego County teenagers have been charged with burglarizing the Second Baptist Church in Edmeston.

The church is on North Street in the hamlet of Edmeston.

According to Otsego County Deputy R. W. Johnson, Kevin Baker, 18, of County Highway 20, Edmeston; Steven C. Fuller, 16, of 32 North St., Edmeston; and David M. Taylor Jr., 16, of 185 Pine Lane, West Winfield; were arrested, arraigned and jailed Monday.

``The above-named defendants did make entry into the church on several occasions over the past month and stole various electronics equipment, such as expensive digital projectors and DVD players, that were used for the Sunday school,’’ Johnston wrote in an e-mail to The Daily Star.

According to Johnston:

- Baker was charged with third-degree burglary, fourth-degree grand larceny, endangering the welfare of a child and unlawful possession of marijuana. He was arraigned in Edmeston Town Court and sent to the Otsego County jail in lieu of $7,500 bail.

- Fuller was charged with third-degree burglary, fourth-degree grand larceny and third-degree criminal possession of stolen property. He was jailed in lieu of $300 bail.

- Taylor was charged with third-degree burglary and fourth-degree grand larceny and was jailed in lieu of $300 bail.

The three, who do not belong to the church, are scheduled to appear in Edmeston Town Court on March 2. The Rev. Ray Merritt of the Second Baptist Church said the thefts apparently started about four weeks ago.

The church’s board of trustees agreed to prosecute those caught when it asked the sheriff’s department for help, he said.

``We didn’t want to be hard on them, but the last time I looked, the Ten Commandments tell us not to steal,’’ he noted.

Merritt said one of the young men, Fuller, had stopped by to apologize for this actions. ``I believe he is remorseful,’’ Merritt said.

Among the stolen items was a $1,000 projector, which has been recovered, he said.

He said the church has upgraded its locks.