Man charged over alleged theft of $200k worth of Clarendon church equipment

A Kingston man has been charged with sacrilege following the theft of over $200,000 worth of equipment from a church in Freetown, Clarendon last week.

The accused, 45-year-old Damion Henry, a labourer of Maxfield Avenue, Kingston 13, was arrested after stolen items were recovered in his possession, said a police statement issued on Sunday.

Under the Larceny Act, a person guilty of sacrilege, which includes breaking and entering any place of "divine worship," faces up to 1o years in prison.

Reports indicate that on February 19, officials of the Longville Boulevard-based discovered both the front and back doors of the church open.

Upon checking, they realized that an audio mixer, amplifier, microphones, and speaker cords were missing.

The police say the theft took place between February 16 and February 18.

The matter was reported to the police, and on Friday, officers, acting on intelligence, found an audio mixer and an amplifier in the possession of a man who claimed he had purchased them from Henry.

Further investigations led police to a bar in Longville Park, Clarendon, where Henry was allegedly attempting to sell additional stolen items.

When questioned, he reportedly failed to provide a satisfactory explanation for his possession of the equipment.

The stolen items were later identified as property of the church, and Henry was taken into custody.

A caution statement was recorded, and he was subsequently charged with sacrilege.

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