2 college students charged in Canton church burglary

CANTON, New York (WWNY) - Two college students have been charged in connection with a theft at a Canton church that left three statues damaged.

Canton police say 21-year-old Matthew McNeil of Skaneateles and 21-year-old Garrett Adolfo of Morrisonville allegedly entered St. Mary’s Catholic Church in January and stole three plaster statues.

The theft was reported on January 29. The statues were discovered damaged near the St. Lawrence University chapel the same day.

A large brass candleholder was also missing but has not been recovered. All four items are valued at around $28,700.

Canton Police Chief James Santimaw said Adolfo is an SLU student and McNeil attends St. Bonaventure University.

McNeil and Adolfo were arrested Friday, and each charged with:

- One count of third-degree burglary

- Three counts of third-degree grand larceny

- Three counts of third-degree criminal possession of stolen property

- One count of fifth-degree criminal possession of stolen property

- Three counts of fourth-degree criminal mischief

They were arraigned in Canton town court and released.

Chief Santimaw said one of the suspects said he discarded the brass candleholder in the trash so it likely won’t be recovered.

He credited SLU for its help in the investigation, saying the college provided security footage of a vehicle that police were able to trace to the suspects.

Canton police were assisted in the investigation by the St. Lawrence County District Attorney’s Office and St. Lawrence University’s Safety and Security Department.

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