DELAND, Fla. -- A man who admitted to vandalizing seven churches was sentenced to five years in prison and ordered to pay an undisclosed amount of restitution, The Associated Press reported.
Benjamin Shultz, 26, will also serve five years probation when he is released. He pleaded no contest to five counts of felony burglary and four counts of criminal mischief, according to the report.
Shultz was charged with stealing cash, audio equipment and pictures from the Volusia County churches. He also was accused of smashing windows and damaging religious items. The AP said Shultz confessed in February to vandalizing the churches because he needed money and because he "has issues" with organized religion.
The Rev. William Yesse, pastor of Emmaus Lutheran Church, which suffered $3,400 in damages when Shultz flipped crosses upside down, scattered Eucharistic hosts on the floor, tore up a Bible and poked holes in a picture of Jesus Christ, said Shultz is paying the consequences for his actions.
"I just hope he gets his life straightened out," Yesse told the news service.
