Man accused of stealing from church

GARDNERVILLE - A Carson City man who allegedly slipped away with the cash box from a Gardnerville church after being given food and money is being held in Douglas County Jail on theft charges.

Orion Jonathan Haines, 19, was arrested last week after deputies received a tip that he had taken the cash box. Haines appeared before East Fork Justice of the Peace Tom Perkins on Monday. He told Perkins he only had $10 in the bank.

According to court documents, Haines and an acquaintance were in Gardnerville and she told him she didn't have any money or food.

Haines said they could get food from one of the local churches. They went to the church and told the pastor they were homeless. He got them some food and $20.

Haines' acquaintance said she bagged up the food and that when they got back to her apartment, she found the cash box with $102 inside. She said Haines took the money and left. Questioned later, Haines told deputies they split the money.

Deputies learned that Haines was on his way to Minden Medical Center. When they arrived, a nurse told them she found some pieces of medical equipment that had been pulled off the wall in a pillow in the room Haines was in. Haines allegedly asked her if he could take the pillow as a souvenir. She said no. Haines was located in a Minden restaurant where he was taken into custody.

Perkins told Haines he is also being held on alternative sentencing violation.

Haines was arrested for driving under the influence on June 30 and was sentenced.

Defense attorney Tod Young was appointed to represent Haines. Perkins set a Jan. 7 preliminary date.