Man charged in connection with theft of candlesticks from church

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- 31-year-old Ricky Skelton of Milwaukee faces one count of burglary (building or dwelling) in connection with the theft of candlesticks from St. Anthony's Church, located at 1700 S. 9th Street that occurred on August 19th.

Ricky Skelton



The criminal complaint in the case says officials spoke with the Parish Public Safety Director who said subject(s) had entered the church sometime between 2:00 and 8:35 p.m. when the church was closed to the public.

The Safety Director told officials the subject(s) had removed seven bronze and marble candlesticks, ranging in size from 14 inches tall to 72 inches tall, as well as a gold colored metal crucifix -- with an estimated value of $66,000.

A witness told officials he saw a subject attempting to break the candlesticks, before placing them in a garbage cart, and wheeling the cart to a residence in the 1600 block of S. 12th Street, according to the criminal complaint.

Officials interviewed the man who lives at the home, who told them a man had sold him the "shiny metal." Officials located some of the brass from the stolen candlesticks inside the man's garage, according to the criminal complaint.

When speaking with Skelton, he told officials he had initially entered the church to pray, before he and a friend took the candlesticks from the church, according to the criminal complaint.