LANCASTER, S.C. — On Thursday, detectives arrested and charged a Lancaster man for his involvement in a string of church burglaries. Detectives say Joseph Geddings, of W. Brooklyn Avenue, is charged with five counts of 2nd degree burglary and one count of obtaining money by false pretenses.
Lancaster County Sheriffβs Office began the investigation when the first of five church burglaries occurred last week. In each of the cases Geddings entered the church by breaking a window. Geddings then stole electronics such as computers and audio/visual equipment from the churches.
The burglaries occurred between October 15 – October 23. The first burglary occurred at David Stand AME Zion on Riverside Rd. The second and third occurred at Shiloh ARP Church located on Shiloh Unity Rd. and Destiny Bible Church on Flat Creek Rd. The fourth incident occurred at Bethel Baptist Church on Bethel Rd. and the fifth incident happened at New Hope AME Zion Church on Pink Plyer Road.
The obtaining money by false pretense charge is a result of Geddings selling some of the stolen property at a local pawn shop while using a fake identification card.
Geddings plead guilty to more than 10 burglaries and a host of other property crimes in 2008, most of which occurred at a church. He was sentenced to 10 years suspended on the service of 5 years and 5 years probation. Geddings was released sometime last year.
