Friday November 1st, 2024 1:30PM

Second suspect now charged with Dawson Co. church thefts

By B.J. Williams
DAWSONVILLE - Dawson County authorities have filed charges against a second suspect in connection with a series of church burglaries earlier this year. <br /> <br /> Dawson County Sheriff's Major Tony Wooten identified the suspect as 18-year-old Johnny Roque of Dahlonega. Roque and 20-year-old Skyler Michaelson had already been tied to church thefts in Lumpkin County.<br /> <br /> Wooten said the pair burglarized more than a dozen churches in the two counties between February and July, stealing musical equipment and electronics.<br /> <br /> Total loss for all the churches was around $40,000. according to Wooten.<br /> <br /> Roque turned himself in to Lumpkin County authorities in July and Dawson County investigators had been working ever since to tie him to the crimes in their county. Dawson County authorities issued arrest warrants for Roque last month, charging him with three counts each of second-degree burglary, theft by taking and criminal trespass. He also was charged with four counts of criminal attempt to commit a felony.<br /> <br /> Wooten said he believes Roque and Michaelson are the only two people responsible for the church burglaries.<br />
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