Justin Branscom              Jordon Schmucker

Two of the three suspects arrested Monday for a number of church burglaries, thefts and criminal damage made first appearances in court.

24-year-old Justin Branscom, and 19-year-old Jordon Schmucker were before Magistrate Judge Randy McEwen where they were told of the possible charges against them. Branscom’s bond stayed the same, but the judge increased the bond for Schmucker partly because of another case where he entered guilty pleas to other burglaries last week. His bond is now 75-thousand dollars.

The charges against 16-year-old Joshua Hickey will go through juvenile court at this point, unless the state seeks to try him as an adult.

The three were arrested based on a Crime Stoppers tip received back on August 3. The tip in conjunction with the ongoing investigation led to the arrest of three suspects and cleared
15- burglaries.

Branscom is charged with 4-counts of burglary, 1-count of theft, criminal damage to property, and criminal trespass.

Hickey is charged with 14-counts of burglary, 14-counts of criminal damage and 12-counts of theft. He is not only suspected in the burglary of churches, but also burglaries of the Dillon’s at 13 th & Main, and the Pic-Quik on South Main.

Schmucker is charged with 5-counts of burglary, 5-counts of criminal damage and 4-counts of theft.

Here are the list of burglaries solved.

Pic Quick, 800 south Main on 4-10-12

Pic Quick, 800 south Main on 4-17-12

Pic Quick, 800 south Main on 4-24-12

Pic Quick, 800 south Main on 6-12-12

Grace Episcopal,2 Hyde Park on 4-25-12

Eastwood Church of Christ, 2500 N Plum on 4-29-12

Our Redeemer Lutheran, 407 E 12th on 6-25-12 & 6-27-12

Seventh Day Adventist, 1302 N Severance on 6-30-12

Trinity United Methodist, 1602 N Main on 7-19-12 & 7-23-12

First Congregational, 3410 N Plum on 7-23-12

First Baptist Church, 800 North Main on 7-23-12

Hutchinson High School, 810 E 13th on 7-29-12

Dillon’s, 1319 N Main on 8-3-12