WIS News 10 - Columbia, South Carolina | Two teens charged in Lexington church vandalism

Two teens charged in Lexington church vandalism

(White Knoll) May 4, 2003 - In Lexington County, two teens are being charged as adults in connection with two church break-ins.

Ward Fulmer,17, and Matthew Micheal,16, have been charged with burglary and grand larceny. Police think the teens ransacked South Lexington Baptist Church and the Life Springs Worship Center last week, stealing electronics and cash.

Saturday morning, deputies arrested Fulmer for breaking into the churches. Michael was taken into custody Friday night.

Church leaders said vandals broke items and stole some equipment from both churches. They believe the criminals entered the Life Springs Worship Center on Platt Springs Road by breaking a window with a rock in the office wing.

Instead of stealing some jewelry left on a desk, the burglars instead apparently shot the walls and office with paint balls. They also broke several doors, possibly by kicking them in.

The worst damage was done to Life Springs Pastor RickWilliams' office, which had paint ball splatters on a mirror and on a computer keyboard, monitor and tower, "It hits home when you walk in and it is your home church and you wonder how people can go in and do that kind of thi

Two laptop computers were stolen from his office along with a digital camera, walkie-talkies and model cars, and some of his drawers were rifled through. Williams said he found the break-in Friday morning when he came to unlock the church around 5:00am for a White Knoll High School Fellowship of Christian Athletes breakfast.

Williams said the cost of the damage will be extensive, "We're looking at $50,000 to $60,0

The laptops were later recovered after a WIS viewer saw an earlier report on the incidents. The viewer found the laptops on the side of the road, not far from the church, and called Life Springs. A stereo system also taken from the church was later recovered from behind a dumpster nearby.

Pastor Williams said he plans to install a burglar police alarm system and said the church leadership will examine other protective measures.

The South Lexington Baptist Church was also vandalized. Glass was everywhere in one of the classrooms. Fire extinguishers had been ripped off the walls and several items were missing, including two paint ball guns.

Student Minister Roxanne Howard found the damage early Friday morning, "We said a lot of prayers as we were walking, please don't let them in he

By Rebecca Pepin

updated 9:20pm by Andrew Pierrotti