Man charged with burglary at church

A Grand Island man has been charged with burglarizing St. Leo's Catholic Church and for stealing his grandmother's car.

Kevin M. Widener, 23, of 2420 N. Park Ave. Apt. 3, was charged in Hall County Court Tuesday with burglary and theft by unlawful taking, both felonies.

He was arrested Sunday morning after a police officer saw him coming out of the church at 2410 S. Blaine St. around 5 a.m. The officer was at the church in response to an alarm there, said Grand Island police Sgt. Dave Vitera.

After leaving the church, Widener, who gained access to the building by prying open a window, got into a 2000 Chevrolet Lumina and drove away. He missed a turn near Blaine Street and Pioneer Boulevard, went off the road and crashed. He then ran away, Vitera said.

Officers arrested Widener a couple of hours later as he walked near 10th Street and Custer Avenue, Vitera said.

A laptop computer, a flat screen computer monitor and a printer were among the items taken from the church, he said.

When officers contacted the Lumina's owner, Carol Widener, she reported the car stolen. She is Kevin Widener's grandmother, Vitera said.

Widener's bond was set at 10 percent of $50,000. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Dec. 22.