Nelson, 66, was taken into custody late last week for his role in sneaking behind the altar at St. Joseph’s Church, into the sacristy room, where he stole the donation bag during New Year’s Eve Mass.
Nelson, who had been released on parole from the Franklin Correctional Facility the day before he committed the burglary, was arrested on Thursday when Bronxville Police Sgt. Richard Anderson recognized from a previous arrest while assessing surveillance video.
Nelson, a Yonkers native, was charged with a felony count of grand larceny, the same crime he was released from Franklin for. He is being held without bail at the Westchester County Jail.
When he next appears in Bronxville Village Court on Wednesday, Jan. 20, he will charged with an additional burglary charge for his role in a Jan. 6 break-in at the high school, when he stole several personal devices, prompting Superintendent David Quattrone to reevaluate district safety protocols.
“(On Jan. 8, the school administration conducted an after action review of this incident and addressed a number of related issues concerning camera upgrades, training, communication and the failure to stop an unknown person at the school entrance,” he said.
“We have launched a number of steps to improve infrastructure and take corrective measures. We are very concerned that this incident occurred, and we remain committed to closing any gaps in our procedure.”
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