Men arrested for church burglary, boat theft

BIG LAKE — Two men accused of breaking into a church to steal musical instruments were found allegedly squatting in an island cabin.

According to an affidavit filed in court Aug. 24 by Alaska State Trooper Anthony J. Stariha, the case first came to light Aug. 16 when the pastor of the Valley Open Bible Fellowship Church on Jojoba Drive reported the break-in. Jojoba is just north of Big Lake Road about a half mile before the road makes a 90-degree turn to head around the south shore of the lake.

Stariha wrote that the pastor had left the church at 5 p.m. the day before and returned at noon the next day to find a rock had been thrown through a church window.

“Two Fender guitars — one bass and one six-string guitar — were stolen. The guitars were described as being black and both electric,” Stariha wrote.

Two Fender amplifiers also were stolen, as well as an Acer laptop. The pastor estimated the value of the property at $1,000.

Stariha called in crime scene investigators who found one “very rare” shoe print, “an old cleat-type print.”

A week later, at 10:27 a.m., Aug. 23, troopers got report that someone was breaking into the South Port Marina.

“Complainants stated they saw two individuals dressed in black steal a boat, now they are in a house on the island and they are not supposed to be there,” Stariha wrote.

Troopers went there and arrested Sydney Alan Williams, 19, and Cammron James Wallen, 22.

“I observed Wallen’s shoeprints to be similar to the shoeprints found at the Valley Open Bible Fellowship Church,” Stariha wrote.

The trooper said that inside the island house he found a black Fender Squier bass and a Fender amplifier. Both matched the description of items stolen from the church.

“Wallen denied ever going into the church and also made statements of ‘who would burglarize a church?’”

Williams wasn’t quite as cagey, telling troopers he’d been in the church for three hours, eating food and stealing the guitars, amps and computer. He said Wallen threw the rock that smashed the window.

“Williams stated there was another individual with them named Troy but did not know his last name,” Stariha wrote.

Troopers went to an address where Troy might live and found another Fender amp but didn’t find Troy.

Williams and Wallen were charged with burglary, theft and criminal mischief. Jail records Thursday afternoon showed Williams was out on bail, but Wallen was still incarcerated.