Dan Seklar, one of four teens accused of vandalizing St. Pius Tenth Church in Chili, was sentenced Aug. 29 to five years probation and ordered to pay restitution, according to the Monroe County Clerk’s Office.
Seklar pleaded guilty to charges of third-degree burglary, second-degree criminal mischief, petit larceny and criminal interference with a religious service, said Assistant Monroe County District Attorney Sonal Rana. The amount of restitution was to be determined at a Sept. 20 hearing. The parish’s insurance company estimated the damages to be $31,000, according to Bob Aman, facilities director at St. Pius Tenth.
Seklar, 18, and three other teens were arrested in connection with extensive vandalism that took place June 29 at the church, 3000 Chili Ave. Vandals defiled holy water; marred the carpet with cigarette burns and skid marks from bicycles; damaged the baptismal font, door frames, a chalice and a painting; discharged fire extinguishers; broke into the sacristy; smashed bottles of Communion wine against a wall; and ripped open and threw around several rolls of Communion wafers, according to Cpl. John Helfer of the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office.
A court date has not yet been set for the other teens, Rana said.
