PROSPERITY — Two Prosperity men and a Chapin woman have been charged with breaking into Macedonia Lutheran Church in Prosperity and stealing several items from inside the church including electronics and musical instruments.
Jenna Lee Coons, 22, of 1616 St. Peters Church Road in Chapin, was arrested along with Joey Kenneth Donovan, 27, and Drake Adam Johnson, 28, both of 6183 Macedonia Church Road in Prosperity, on March 24 after investigators with the Newberry County Sheriff’s Office found out that the three were attempting to sell the stolen items in the Chapin area.
All three were charged with second-degree burglary, grand larceny, possession of meth and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Bond was set at $76,000 on each. All three remained in the Newberry County Detention Center on Tuesday night.
According to the Newberry County Sheriff’s Office:
It was discovered March 23 that someone had entered Macedonia Lutheran Church in Prosperity and gone through several offices and the sanctuary, taking several items from inside the church including electronics and musical instruments.
Investigators from the Newberry County Sheriff’s Office canvassed the area around the church and started contacting other law enforcement agencies in the area. Investigators received information that the three were trying to sell the stolen items in the Chapin area.
On March 24, investigators went to Macedonia Church Road to the home where Johnson and Donovan live and were able to confirm their involvement and locate the majority of the stolen items. They also found a small quantity of meth (less than 1 gram) inside the home.
Sheriff Lee Foster said the arrests were made based on information the department received along with forensic evidence tying the three to the church and the recovery of the majority of the stolen property.