Thursday, September 13, 2012

Scott Mears of Ponca City, Okla., on Thursday pleaded guilty to two counts of non-residential burglary and two misdemeanor theft charges related to burglaries at three Cowley County churches.

Mears was scheduled to be sentenced Oct. 25.

The church Mears admitted committing burglaries in July at the Hillcrest Bible Baptist Church in Arkansas City, and the First Christian Church and the Trinity Lutheran Church, both in Winfield.

Mears was arrested in Emporia. Authorities say he could face charges of burglarizing other churches in several cities.

Mears was being held Thursday in the Cowley County Jail on a $50,000 bond.