Mary Jo Pepin PC: Fox 11 Online
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – A judge Friday denied a motion to dismiss the charges against a woman who allegedly burglarized a church on Christmas Day – and ruled that case will be heard at the same time as another church burglary she is accused of.
Mary Jo Pepin, 66, is charged with a felony burglary counts and a misdemeanor theft count for the incident at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in De Pere on Dec. 25, 2022. Pepin also faces a misdemeanor charge, filed in April, for “entry into a building” for a Nov. 12, 2022, incident at St. Philip the Apostle Church.
No trial date was set Friday. The case returns to court Jan. 16, when either a plea will be taken, or a trial will be scheduled.
According to the criminal complaint, police responded to Our Lady of Lourdes Church in De Pere at about 5 p.m. Christmas Day. Footprints were found, but no one was found in the building. Security video showed images of the same woman believed to be responsible for trespassing incidents on several other dates.
The defense argued the evidence found in the case didn’t support the charges, but the motion to dismiss was rejected Friday by Judge Tammy Jo Hock. She also denied a request to suppress the evidence recovered in the case.
Prosecutors asked to join the Our Lady of Lourdes case with the St. Philip case, noting the overlapping investigations and similar allegations. Judge Hock granted that request.
Online court records show Pepin also has convictions for burglary in Outagamie County in 2010, theft in Oneida County in 2008, theft in Outagamie County in 2008, receiving stolen property from Winnebago County in 2006, and forgery in Brown County in 1990.
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