A 17-year-old already convicted of being involved with numerous church burglaries and ordered to prison after being caught doing similar crimes was arraigned on the charges this morning.
Joshua Hickey is charged with 3 counts of burglary, 1 count of arson, 2 counts of criminal damage, 1 count of felony criminal damage, 3 counts of misdemeanor theft, 3 counts of contributing to a child’s misconduct or deprivation, 1 count of unlawful possession of a prescription, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.
He tried Monday to enter a plea to the marijuana charge, however his attorney told the court that she had not spoken with him about entering any pleas, So, Judge Tim Chambers told him to talk with his attorney first and “not guilty” pleas were entered.
It was seven hours after being released from jail in the earlier case, that Joshua Hickey allegedly broke into a local grocery store and two churches. That included burglaries of Dillon’s 1319 North Main, Trinity United Methodist church, 1602 N. Main and the First Church of Christ Scientist located at 1400 N. Main.
Hickey had been granted 24-months community corrections on a 32-month sentence in the earlier case. He then violated his corrections and was given a 30-day sanction by Judge Tim Chambers. That didn’t work so well resulting in the new charges. Judge Chambers then ordered the sentence be served.
Hickey will now face a future jury trial in front of Judge Chambers. In the earlier preliminary hearing, he had wanted a new attorney saying he would no longer cooperate or talk with his current attorney Shannon Crane. However, Magistrate Judge Randy McEwen denied the request.