By Tom Grace
Cooperstown News Bureau
Three Otsego County teenagers have been
charged with burglarizing the Second Baptist
Church in Edmeston.
The church is on North Street in the hamlet
of Edmeston.
According to Otsego County Deputy R. W.
Johnson, Kevin Baker, 18, of County Highway
20, Edmeston; Steven C. Fuller, 16, of 32 North
St., Edmeston; and David M. Taylor Jr., 16, of
185 Pine Lane, West Winfield; were arrested,
arraigned and jailed Monday.
``The above-named defendants did make
entry into the church on several occasions
over the past month and stole various electronics
equipment, such as expensive digital
projectors and DVD players, that were used
for the Sunday school,’’ Johnston wrote in an
e-mail to The Daily Star.
According to Johnston:
- Baker was charged with third-degree
burglary, fourth-degree grand larceny, endangering
the welfare of a child and unlawful
possession of marijuana. He was arraigned in
Edmeston Town Court and sent to the Otsego
County jail in lieu of $7,500 bail.
- Fuller was charged with third-degree
burglary, fourth-degree grand larceny and
third-degree criminal possession of stolen
property. He was jailed in lieu of $300 bail.
- Taylor was charged with third-degree
burglary and fourth-degree grand larceny
and was jailed in lieu of $300 bail.
The three, who do not belong to the church,
are scheduled to appear in Edmeston Town
Court on March 2. The Rev. Ray Merritt of the
Second Baptist Church said the thefts apparently
started about four weeks ago.
The church’s board of trustees agreed to
prosecute those caught when it asked the
sheriff’s department for help, he said.
``We didn’t want to be hard on them, but the
last time I looked, the Ten Commandments
tell us not to steal,’’ he noted.
Merritt said one of the young men, Fuller,
had stopped by to apologize for this actions.
``I believe he is remorseful,’’ Merritt said.
Among the stolen items was a $1,000 projector,
which has been recovered, he said.
He said the church has upgraded its locks.
