Church thief sentenced to jail

A Carson City man was sentenced Wednesday to 7-1/2 months in Douglas County Jail after he admitted stealing $102 from a Gardnerville church cash box.

Orion Jonathan Haines, 19, admitted the Dec. 23 theft, but told East Fork Justice Tom Perkins he gave the money to a homeless man he encountered while he was walking through town.

Haines was charged with theft and attempted theft, both misdemeanors. A felony charge was dismissed.

Perkins imposed a 45-day suspended sentence from a June 30 driving under the influence case, and sentenced Haines to six months on the new charge consecutive to the previous offense.

He also sentenced Haines to six months concurrent to the theft case.

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 and he gave them food and $20.

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

Haines allegedly said they split the money when he was being questioned by deputies.

In addition to the church theft, Haines admitted attempting to steal items from Minden Medical Center which he stashed in a pillow.

"I went to church with a friend. I showed her how to get food. I went in there and stole the lock box with $102. I gave the money to this homeless guy I saw walking around," Haines said.

He said he got bored at the Minden Medical Center and broke something off the wall.

"I was scared. I asked to take the pillow with me and they said, 'no.' I said there's some stuff in there," he told the court.

Prosecutor Erik Levin said he doubted Haines' story.

"I'm skeptical he gave the money away, and I believe he tried to steal from Minden Medical Center," Levin said. "To go to a church and accept money and food on the one hand, then steal money on the other, it's just despicable."

Levin said Haines had an extensive juvenile and adult record with arrests for theft, drugs, alcohol, domestic battery and driving under the influence.

"If you don't want to be in jail, don't steal things," Perkins said.