More charges for church-theft suspects

Two men face felony grand larceny, felony breaking and entering and misdemeanor vandalism charges in the town of Orange for burglarizing three area churches last month, according to Orange Police Chief James L. Fenwick.

Stephen Michael Blanton, 21, of Unionville and Justin Tyler Lair, 19, of Mitchells were charged with the burglary of the Orange Assembly of God Church that occurred on Feb. 18 in the town of Orange.

Culpeper County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested Blanton and Lair on Thursday during a traffic stop near Kirtley Trail in Culpeper.

They were charged then with burglaries at Grace Tabernacle and Mitchells Presbyterian churches.

Det. Evans Oakerson of the Orange Town Police Department worked with the Culpeper County Sheriff’s Office and the Culpeper Town Police in solving this case.

CCSO deputies recovered property stolen from Grace Tabernacle and Mitchells Presbyterian at a residence in Mitchells last week.

Both were burglarized in February. Mainly electronic equipment was stolen, including a sound system and musical instruments. A communion set was also taken from Mitchells Presbyterian.

In Culpeper, Blanton was charged with buying or receiving stolen goods, namely various electronics at $200 or more, an unclassified felony; destruction of private property, a misdemeanor; and curse and abuse over the telephone, a misdemeanor.

Lair’s charges in Culpeper include buying or receiving stolen goods, namely electronics valued at $200 or more and destruction of private property. 

They are being held without bond at the Culpeper County Jail.

Blanton and Lair are due to appear in Culpeper County General Court on Wednesday at 9 a.m.