Crime & Safety

Man Who Confessed to Stealing Chalice was Parish Member

Police said the Sts. Joachim & Ann member decided to steal the chalice and collection box money after a night of heavy drinking.

The man who turned himself in for stealing a chalice from Sts. Joachim and Ann Catholic Church was charged in St. Charles County Circuit Court Wednesday.

Sean McDonald, 20, of the 900 block of Cottontail in St. Charles County, faces charges of second-degree burglary and theft.

McDonald told that he entered Sts. Joachim and Ann Church at 4112 McClay Road June 16 and stole cash from the collection boxes, a gold-plated over silver chalice and a set of golf clubs from the rectory garage. The chalice is valued at $6,000. McDonald told police he knew the combination to the cabinet where the chalice was kept.

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Police reported that McDonald is a member of the Sts. Joachim and Ann parish. He told police he decided to steal the chalice and cash after a night of heavy drinking.

He sold the chalice to a store in St. Charles that buys gold. The chalice was recovered and returned to the priest who owns it. McDonald said told police he felt guilty about the theft, so he turned himself in to police and is cooperating with them.

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Bond was set at $15,000.


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