Couple Steals Crosses From PA Church, Selling Them As Scrap: State Police

A couple broke into a church, stole crosses, and attempted to sell them as scrap, Pennsylvania state police allege.

Sherry Hoffman (left), John Charles Watkins (right), and the Sacred Heart of Jesus where the burglary happened.
Photo Credit: *Dauphin County Prison (overlay); Google Maps (Street View)*

07/26/2022 3:37 p.m.

Sherry Ann Hoffman, 50, and John Charles Watkins, 41, broke into the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church on 140 East Market Street in Williamstown on Sunday, July 24, according to the police release.

The couple is accused of taking a gold monstrance, a cross, and multiple crucifixes, police say.

Hoffman and Watkins then used grinding tools to cut the items and sold them as scrap metal, according to the release.

The church had been closed for two years, but following the burglary church members have begun secreting the items away, authorities say.

Hoffman and Watkins have been charged with burglary, theft, institutional vandalism, criminal trespass, and desecration of a venerated object, and they were held in the Dauphin County Prison in lieu of $25,000 in bail court records show.

Hoffman has an additional charge for drug paraphernalia, according to court documents.

The couple's preliminary hearing has been scheduled before Magisterial District Judge Rebecca Jo Margerum at 11:15 a.m. on Aug. 1, according to their court dockets.

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