Jordon Schmucker            Justin Branscom

Two of three people suspected in a series of church burglaries in the Hutchinson area have been formally charged.

24-year-old Justin Branscom is charged with four counts of burglary, one count of attempted burglary and one count of criminal damage to property.

He is alleged to have been involved in the burglary on July 22 of the Crossroads Christian Church, three burglaries on July 23, including Trinity United Methodist Church, First Congregational Church, and the attempted break in at First Baptist Church.

Then he’s accused of being involved in the break in at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, that was on July 27. That included damage at that church which included the windows, carpet, decorations, dishes, a computer monitor and drywall.

A co-defendant, 19-year-old Jordon Schmucker is charged with 5-counts of burglary which includes Grace Episcopal Church on April 25, Eastwood Church of Christ on April 29, Our Redeemer Lutheran Church on June 26 and the 7th Day Adventist Church on July 23. But, he is also charged with a break in of the Pic Quik on South Main on April 24.

He is also charged with one count of criminal damage to a stained glass window at Grace Episcopal Church.

A third suspect, 16-year-old Joshua 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 13th & Main, and the Pic-Quik on South Main. He also faces a possible charge of aggravated escape from custody when he and another juvenile escaped from the recreation yard of the Reno County Youth Services. His cases at this point are going through juvenile court.

Branscom is expected back in court next Monday for a bond hearing, while the case against Schmucker will be place on the waiver-status docket in front of Judge Joe McCarville on September 5.