Man Charged With Felony Vandalism of Newport Beach Church
A San Dimas resident was charged April 17 with felony vandalism and a probation violation after destroying parts of Christ Church by the Sea in Newport Beach on April 15.
Authorities allege 27-year-old Nicolas Briones smashed the church’s stained-glass windows and doors with a baseball bat early Saturday morning.
Newport Beach Police responded to a call around 2:46 a.m. of a vandalism in progress at the church and detained Briones, according to Newport Beach Police Spokesperson Lt. Brad Miller. He is now being held in Orange County Jail.
Briones had just been released from jail April 11 on a separate felony vandalism charge from March and was on a two-year probation.
“We do not have any information that indicates this was a hate-related act,” Miller told The Epoch Times.
Authorities say, there is also no evidence of a prior relationship between Briones and the church or any of its staff or members.
Church leaders didn’t respond to The Epoch Times for comment, but The Orange County Register reported the church estimated repairing the damage will cost between $80,000 and $100,000.
Senior Pastor Paul Capetz told the newspaper it would raise money for repairs through a GoFundMe page—which has yet to be created—and until then the windows will be boarded.
The congregation resumed services April 16 after the church was cleaned up Saturday afternoon by many volunteers, according to The Orange County Register.
