LaGrange man arrested after Burglarizing Millbrook church

Millbrook, New York – On October 21, 2015, New York State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation from the Poughkeepsie barracks arrested Randy G. Bowen, Jr., 31 years old, of LaGrange, New York, for Burglary 3rd Degree, a Class D Felony, two counts of Criminal Mischief 4th Degree and Endangering the Welfare of a Child, Class A Misdemeanors.

On October 21, 2015, Troopers were dispatched to Saint Joseph’s Church in Millbrook to investigate a reported burglary.  Church staff reported that between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 10:50 a.m., someone had unlawfully entered the locked church and subsequently damaged the church doors.  Church staff observed a male sitting in the pews as they entered the church and knew that he was not a parishioner.  Staff immediately contacted the police after observing the male leave the church parking area in a tan Honda sedan with a small child passenger.

A short time later, The State Police were contacted to conduct a welfare check on an unattended child located in a tan vehicle parked in the area of the Grace Episcopal Church in the Village of Millbrook.  Following an investigation, it was discovered that Bowen had left the 2-year-old child alone in the vehicle as he attempted to break into Grace Church.

Bowen was charged with burglarizing Saint Joseph’s Church and damaging doors at both churches.  He was additionally charged with Endangering the Welfare of a Child.  Bowen was arraigned before the Town of Pleasant Valley Justice Court and remanded to the Dutchess County Jail in lieu of $25,000 cash bail or $50,000 bond. He is due to appear before the Town of Washington Court on October 26, 2015.

Pursuant to this investigation, it was discovered that Bowen was responsible for a burglary that occurred on September 6, 2015 at the Blessed Kateri Church located in the Town of LaGrange.  On October 22, 2015, Bowen was additionally charged with Burglary 3^rd Degree and Criminal Mischief 4^th Degree for burglarizing the Town of LaGrange Church.  He is scheduled to appear before the Town of Lagrange Court at a later date.