FRANKLIN, Pa. (EYT) – A Meadville man has been sentenced to state prison for his involvement in at least 23 western Pennsylvania church burglaries.

Steven Gene Kostenbauder, 32, of Meadville was sentenced Friday by Judge Robert L. Boyer to serve 7-1/2 to 30 years at Camp Hill state prison.

Kostenbauder pleaded guilty in February to five counts of felony burglary in connection with a September crime spree. In exchange for his plea, 34 other charges of burglary, conspiracy, theft and criminal mischief were dismissed. Seventy-four other charges were withdrawn during earlier proceedings.

Kostenbauder and John Biddle, 31, of Oil City, broke into churches in Venango, Mercer, and Crawford counties

Police arrested the men at the North Sandy Presbyterian Church in Mineral Township at 5:20 a.m. on Sept. 30.

Biddle’s case proceeded to the Court of Common Pleas where he faced 43 of the 108 original charges.

He pleaded guilty in February on five counts of felony burglary; 34 other related charges were dismissed, and four charges were dismissed.

He is scheduled for sentencing on April 29.