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QUEENS---Two Brooklyn men have been arrested and charged with breaking into Saint Mel's Church in Flushing on Christmas Day and stealing $20,000 in charitable donations which were intended to be distributed to the poor and needy.
Detectives assigned to the 109th Precinct have arrested 26-year-old Daniel Morales, of Brooklyn, and charged him with third degree burglary and third degree grand larceny in connection with the theft. He was arraigned in Criminal Court in Kew Gardens and is being held on $50,000 bail. His case was adjourned until Jan. 30.
His alleged accomplice, Dennis Almodovar, 24, was taken into custody Thursday and the cash portion of the money stolen, just under $6,000 has been recovered. Checks taken in the burglary are non-negotiable and can be replaced.
Almodovar before Queens Criminal Court Judge Ira Margulies on a criminal complaint charging him with third-degree burglary, third-degree grand larceny and criminal possession of stolen property. Bail was set at $10,000 and his case was adjourned to Feb. 7.
Queens district attorney Richard Brown said the duo was observed by a church usher exiting the walk-in safe area of St. Mel's Church, located at 26-01 154th Street, at 9 a.m. on Christmas Day. The defendant Morales was allegedly carrying a grey lock box containing $20,000 in cash and personal checks. When confronted by the usher, it is alleged that the defendant claimed that he was at the church to fix the elevator. The usher then observed the defendant load the lock box into a Lincoln Navigator and drive away. Brown said the suspicious usher jotted down the Navigator's Vermont license, which was traced back to Morales. 12-28-06
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© 2006 North
Country Gazette
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