A Fayette County man will spend the next 21/2 years in prison for burglarizing a Catholic church in Richeyville on Holy Thursday 2006.
John Majoros, 44, of 520 Liberty Ave., Brier Hill, was sentenced to 21/2 to 10 years in prison Tuesday by Washington County Judge John DiSalle.
He entered an open plea Sept. 14 to charges of burglary, theft, institutional vandalism and criminal trespass.
Majoros was arrested April 13, 2006, following an incident at St. Agnes Church.
According to court records, Majoros first entered the church rectory without permission. When he was made to leave, he then went to the church, where he began asking parishioners for money for gasoline.
One parishioner gave him $5, but he said it wasn't enough. Another parishioner walked with Majoros to a nearby GetGo gas station where the parishioner charged $10 of gas for Majoros, police said.
Majoros later returned to the church, where he took a brick and tossed it through the glass door at the entrance while parishioners were inside the adjacent social hall. Majoros then removed a container containing $500 in donations from the church vestibule.
Following sentencing, attorney Joseph Francis said Majoros' action was a result of his severe drug addiction.
"His addiction was as serious as it can be," said Francis.