A Fairfield County grand jury indicted two men on May 5 in connection with a string of church break-ins that investigators say targeted four worship sites across the county. William Lee Whitehead, of Dayton, and Jonathon L. Schneider, of Lancaster, are accused of stealing electronics and musical instruments. The case grew after deputies responded to an initial reported break-in on March 29, and Whitehead was taken into custody on April 17.
How Investigators Connected The Cases
According to WSYX, deputies and detectives launched a multi-week investigation after that March 29 call and a second wave of thefts reported on April 12. Surveillance video from the churches allegedly shows suspects carrying property out, and detectives tracked a vehicle and pawned items that matched the stolen equipment. Authorities say those leads helped them recover a significant amount of the missing gear and identify the two suspects.
Charges Returned
WSYX reports that Whitehead was indicted on multiple counts that include five counts of breaking, four counts of possession of criminal tools, several theft counts, a weapons-under-disability charge, and a receiving-stolen-property charge. Schneider faces two counts each of breaking and possession of criminal tools, along with theft counts. The sheriff's office told WSYX that "a significant amount of stolen property, including electronics and musical instruments, has been recovered," and the grand jury formally returned the indictments on May 5.
Sheriff’s Office And Public Outreach
Sheriff Alex Lape credited his detectives with piecing together pawn records, surveillance footage, and vehicle information that led to the arrests and the recovery of stolen items, according to the Fairfield County Sheriff's Office. Whitehead was arrested without incident on April 17, and Schneider was later identified as part of the same investigation. Officials emphasize that an indictment is a formal allegation, and both defendants are presumed innocent unless and until they are proven guilty in court.
