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Alleged church thief charged

By Mark Harrison
The Times-Journal

Published December 21, 2009

Deputies charged a Crossville man in connection with a number of church burglaries in DeKalb County that stretch back to November.

Ethan Nathaniel Heaton, 18, was charged with burglary and remained in the DeKalb County Jail on Monday afternoon with his bond set at $60,000.

Sheriff Jimmy Harris said Heaton is suspected of burglarizing at least six churches and could face additional charges later.

Harris said, since November, Heaton has allegedly burglarized New Home Church in Kilpatrick, Mount Pleasant Church in Grove Oak, Union Grove Baptist Church and Mount Pleasant Baptist Church in Crossville and Calvary Baptist Church in Fyffe.

Harris said Heaton allegedly stole items, such as speakers, amplifiers, other sound equipment, guitars, stereos, a camcorder, a computer, other assorted electronics items, as well as sports equipment and a small amount of cash. He said the total value of the stolen items is estimated at about $20,000.

He said most of the items stolen have been recovered and are being processed and returned to the respective owners.

According to Harris, Heaton is also suspected of breaking into several other churches where no items were taken, including Highway Church of God in Fyffe, Liberty Church in Crossville, Tenbroek Baptist Church and Providence Missionary Baptist Church in Collinsville.

Harris said witnesses reported a white Ford Mustang at the scene of some of the burglaries. He said the investigation led to pawn shops in the area where a man driving a white Fort Mustang – later identified as Heaton – had allegedly pawned off some of the stolen items.

He said, once Heaton was identified, deputies put out a “be on the lookout” and, on Thursday afternoon, Crossville police officers Jacky Clayton and Brian Slaton spotted the Mustang on Highway 227, pulled it over, found Heaton to be driving and arrested him.

“This arrest was made possible through a joint effort of several agencies, including Crossville, Geraldine and Fyffe police departments, the sheriff’s office and the Drug Task Force,” Harris said. “We’ve had a lot of people putting a lot of work into getting to the bottom of these burglaries, and we are glad to have a suspect in custody.

“This case was closed due to good old-fashioned police work. We hope we won’t see any more of these church burglaries, not only here during the holidays, but in the future as well.”

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