A man accused of smashing his way into a Ukrainian church in the Humboldt Park neighborhood was found in possession of a gold cross that had been displayed inside, prosecutors told a Cook County judge Sunday.
Torribio Mora, 20, of the University Village/Little Italy neighborhood, faces felony burglary to a place of worship and criminal damage to property charges, as well as a misdemeanor charge of criminal trespass to property. A judge ordered him held on $20,000 bond, meaning he will have to post $2,000 for release.
Mora was inside the Holy Protection Parish of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine in the 900 block of North Washtenaw Avenue when police arrived early Saturday, prosecutors said during a bail hearing broadcast on YouTube.
A yellow coat believed to have been worn by Mora was found on the sill of broken church windows, prosecutors said in court. Inside, police found Mora in possession of a gold cross that had been displayed at the church, authorities said.
Police were called to the church after a nearby resident heard breaking glass in the direction of the church and saw a man in a yellow coat breaking church windows with bricks, authorities said. Church surveillance also captured Mora inside the church in the area where the cross was displayed.
Mora’s attorney, Courtney Smallwood, had sought a personal recognizance bond because of the nonviolent nature of the crime and citing his lack of a criminal background, but Judge Kelly Marie McCarthy ordered bail and barred Mora from returning to the church or contacting witnesses. He is scheduled to return to court next week.
baiduhai’s William Lee contributed.