Three charged with church burglary

By Eloria Newell James, community@laurelleadercall.com

WAYNESBORO — Three people have been arrested by the Wayne County Sheriff’s Department in connection with a church burglary.

James Taylor Jordan, Jessie Jordan Jr. and Cassandra Middleton Jordan have all been charged in connection with a church burglary that occurred earlier this week.

According to officials, the Wayne County Sheriff’s Department received a call on Monday reporting that the Red Creek Church of God located in the Red Creek Church Road in the Progress Community of Wayne County had been broken into.

Investigator Kevin Stevens with the Sheriff’s Department responded to the scene and was successful in recovering several pieces of physical evidence.

Stevens said entry to the facility was gained by breaking a glass door on the rear of the church’s fellowship hall.

Three guitars from the sanctuary and a window unit air conditioner were reported stolen from the church’s parsonage that was being used for storage by the church.

During the investigation, Stevens received information from a local pawn shop that indicated that Cassandra Middleton Jordan had pawned a guitar which was identified as one stolen from the church. Further investigation revealed that James Taylor Jordan and Jessie Jordan Jr. were also involved, according to reports.

Also, during the course of the investigation, WCSD Investigators Stevens and Mike Mozingo learned that James Taylor Jordan and Jessie Jordan Jr. broke into the church and parsonage around 10 p.m. Sunday night.

Stevens reported that Cassandra Middleton Jordan sold one of the stolen guitars at a pawn shop in Waynesboro. James Taylor Jordan sold the second guitar at a pawn shop in Laurel and James Taylor Jordan sold the air conditioner to a local scrap metal business.

After gathering all of the information and tips received in the investigation, officials then began looking for the suspects.

Investigator Mozingo and Stevens then located and arrested Cassandra Middleton Jordan at her residence on Jordan Sumrall Road.

James Taylor Jordan and Jessie Taylor Jordan turned themselves in at the Wayne County Sheriff’s Department later that afternoon.

James Taylor Jordan and Jessie Jordan Jr. are charged with burglary of a church, as well as, burglary of a storage house.

Cassandra Middleton Jordan was charged with possession of stolen property.

Wayne County Justice Court Judge Charles Britton Sr. conducted the initial court appearances for James Taylor Jordan and Jessie Jordan Jr. and Cassandra Middleton Jordan. James and Jessie Jordan’s bonds were set at a total of $60,000 each.

Cassandra Middleton Jordan’s bond was set at $2,000.

Stevens is expected to present this case to the next Wayne County Grand Jury, which is set to convene on January 11, 2010.

Stevens said the charge of burglary of a church is a felony charge and carries a maximum of 14 years in prison, while the burglary of the storage house charge carries a maximum of seven years. Possession of stolen property is a misdemeanor charge and carries a maximum of six months.

Stevens said the Sheriff’s Department is continuing to investigate other crimes, which may be connected to these suspects. He said additional charges are possible.

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