Arrest made in theft from church in North Vernon

VERNON — Jennings County Sheriff’s officers made another arrest Friday in an ongoing investigation into the burglary of St. Anne Catholic Church in North Vernon.

Officers traveled to Austin to follow up on the case after Scott County Prosecutor Jason Mount reported that a warrant had been issued for one of the suspects

Charles C. Kelley, 37, Austin, was arrested at 907 W. York Road on three counts of receiving stolen property and possession of a controlled substance, all Class D felonies. During an initial interview with Kelley earlier this year, officers had found prescription medications in his possession, a news release from Sheriff Steve Hoppock stated.

Kelley was being held at the Scott County Jail on a $15,000 bond.

During the arrest, officers found a significant piece of evidence that had been used in the St. Anne’s burglary in a storage shed, police said.

The burglary occurred just after Christmas when a safe containing golden chalices, some dating back to the church’s founding nearly 170 years ago, and other church antiquities were stolen. Those items were located earlier this month in Scott County.

Officers will meet with the Jennings County prosecutor’s office this week to request formal charges be filed against Kelley for the burglary, the news release stated.

The investigation continues and another arrest is anticipated as a result of Kelley’s arrest, Hoppock said.