A Mountain Grove man is facing a burglary charge after authorities say he was found inside a church early Monday morning.
According to a probable cause statement filed in Wright County, deputies were dispatched around 3:34 a.m. on June 16 to a report of trespassing at a church on Outer Road in Mountain Grove. Mountain Grove Police Officers Sanders and Paepke arrived first and detained Mark Anthony Sartin, who they said was located inside the building.
Deputy David House wrote that Sartin did not have any stolen property on him. A person from the church told officers he wanted to press charges and believed the door had been left unlocked. Boyd later provided video footage showing Sartin “crack an outer door open, say ‘hello,’ then enter the church and walk around.”
Sartin reportedly told the deputy he had been walking through the woods all day and entered the church looking for a place to charge his phone, believing someone might be inside because the lights were on.
He has been served a warrant for Trespassing 1st Degree.
