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Rash of church thefts solved

Two suspects charged

By Richard Gould | Hickory Daily Record

Published: August 1, 2008

TAYLORSVILLE - Over the past few months, more than a dozen churches have been broken into and pilfered in Alexander County.

Brandon Lee Lewis, 22, of Taylorsville and Shonda Martin Shearer, 29, of Hiddenite, have been arrested and charged with multiple counts of breaking and entering and larceny. Lewis and Shearer also are accused of breaking into several homes.

The Alexander County Sheriff's Office began investigating the burglaries three weeks ago when a member of an area church reported that a suspicious man had started attending services and asked deputies to look into the matter, said Lt. Tod Jones.

In many cases, Lewis and Shearer would attend services at the churches and then give the pastor a false hardship story to get money from the church, according to investigators. Then, while in the building, they would unlock a window so they could come back at night, gain access and rob the church.

The Alexander County Sheriff's Office, along with the Taylorsville Police Department, arrested Lewis on July 21 as a result of a joint investigation.

Lewis is being held in the Alexander County Jail under a $53,000 secured bond and had his first court appearance Monday.

An arrest warrant was served on Shearer on July 24. She was already in jail on a simple possession charge.

The investigation continues and more arrest charges are pending.

CHURCHES ROBBED
• Pleasant Hill Baptist Church
• South River Methodist Church
• Taylorsville Church of God
• East Taylorsville Baptist Church
• Wayfound Baptist Church
• Freedom Baptist Church
• Hiddenite Baptist Church
• Stony Point Baptist Church
• Stony Point Methodist Church
• Thomas Street Church of God
• Rocky Face Baptist Church
• Beulah Baptist Church