MUNCIE, IN — A Muncie man has been accused of breaking into a local church and committing acts of vandalism.
Brandon Lavail Riddick, 42, is charged in Delaware Circuit Court 5 with burglary, a Level 5 felony carrying up to six years in prison, and institutional criminal mischief, a Level 6 felony with a maximum 30-month sentence.
Muncie police said Riddick about 4:45 a.m. on April 15 entered Ambassadors of Christ, 700 S. Madison St., and began “smashing items” in the building.
A city police officer said when he arrived at the scene, a man later identified as Riddick was “jumping and yelling.” He was taken into custody.
Officers viewed a video that allegedly showed Riddick throwing a rock through a window on the south side of the building.
The church’s owner told police “they knew it was Brandon because he was once a member of their church.”
Riddick was taken to IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital for an examination before being delivered to the Delaware County Jail.
He continues to be held in the jail under a $7,500 bond. An initial hearing in the case is scheduled for May 19.
Even though Riddick has been in custody for more than three weeks, documents related to his case — including a probable cause affidavit — remain sealed and unavailable for public review.
According to other court documents, Riddick has been convicted of crimes including sexual battery, failure to register as a sex or violent offender, theft, driving while intoxicated and driving as a habitual traffic violator.
His sexual battery conviction was in Cook County, Illinois, in February 2005. As a result of that conviction, he will be required to register as a sex offender, in the communities where he lives and works, for the rest of his life.
Douglas Walker is a news reporter at The Star Press. Contact him at 765-213-5851 or at dwalker@muncie.gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Muncie Star Press: Muncie man charged with burglarizing, vandalizing local church
Reporting by Douglas Walker, Muncie Star Press / Muncie Star Press
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