Michael Gonzalez / Sedgwick County Jail
The 23-year-old man accused of the burglary and vandalism of a Wichita, Kansas, Catholic church in March was arraigned May 28.
CatholicVote previously reported that the vandal broke into St. Patrick Catholic Church in the early morning of March 15, destroying statues, candles, windows, and other objects. The vandal also defaced sacred spaces in the church and burned an American flag. According to the Kansas Catholic Conference, a Satanic website’s URL was also written on a wall.
Local CBS affiliate KWCH reported that the suspect was later identified as Michael A. Gonzalez. Police and the FBI launched an investigation into the vandalism and arrested Gonzalez March 18.
KWCH reported May 28 that Gonzalez was arraigned on two felony charges of burglary and criminal desecration, as well as two misdemeanor charges of theft and criminal damage to property.
“Sedgwick County Jail records show that Gonzalez remains in custody, held on a bond amount totaling a little more than $500,000,” KWCH reported.
The outlet also reported that Gonzalez has previously been convicted in a nearby county for criminal threat, criminal damage to property and burglary. His next court date is July 25.
According to CatholicVote’s tracker for attacks on Catholic churches, the St. Patrick attack was the 13th out of 25 committed so far this year.
