Man Arrested in Galloway Church Burglary

| December 20, 2017

SUGARCREEK BOROUGH, Pa. (EYT) – An area man was arrested yesterday in connection with a September church burglary in Sugarcreek Borough, Venango County.

Sugarcreek Borough Police filed the following charges Tuesday against Joshua Matthew Garbowsky, 25, of Centerville:

  • Burglary – Not Adapted for Overnight Accommodation, No Person Present, Felony 2
  • Criminal Mischief – Damage Property, Misdemeanor 3
  • Theft By Unlawful Taking – Movable Property, Misdemeanor 3
  • Institutional Vandalism Place Worship, Misdemeanor 2

According to a criminal complaint filed at Magisterial District Judge Patrick E. Lowrey’s office by Lt. Ryan Ashbaugh, the charges stem from a September 19 break-in at Galloway Church, 196 Sysler Road, Franklin, Pa.

Lt. Ashbaugh arrived on scene and found evidence of a break-in, including a broken window leading to the secretary’s office and pry marks on a locked desk drawer within the office.

Pry marks were also found on other office doors inside the church, according to the criminal complaint.

Tpr. Simons of the Pennsylvania State Police Criminal Investigations Unit was called to the scene to process the evidence.

Fingerprints found in and around the secretary’s office were sent to the PSP Erie Crime lab to be processed.

Sgt. Pottorf, Latent Print Examiner, reported that a check of the AFIS system revealed the fingerprints on a piece of glass found inside the secretary’s office were a match with those of Garbowsky.

Lt. Ashbaugh asked church employees if they knew Garbowsky or knew why his fingerprints would be in the secretary’s office.

“No one knew the defendant or had any reason why his prints would be in the area of the office,” said Lt. Ashbaugh in the criminal complaint.

During a December 19 interview with Lt. Ashbaugh, Garbowsky was shown photos of the church and stated that he had never been to the facility.

After Garbowsky was taken to the church, he again stated he had never been there.

Garbowsky was arraigned Tuesday before Judge Lowrey and placed in the Venango County Jail in lieu of 50,000.00 cash bail.

A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for January 3, 2018, in Venango County Central Court.


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