Published: May 17, 2008 12:12 am            

Salvation Army thief sentenced

CLINTON — A man who robbed The Salvation Army Citadel, 219 First Ave., in February has been sentenced to serve 60 days in jail and two years probation.

Christopher M. Emery, 23, of Davenport, was charged with first-degree theft and third-degree burglary after a break-in at the Citadel on Feb. 12. Officials with The Salvation Army reported a loss estimated at more than $10,000, including seven laptop computers, a projector and a floor safe containing cash and records.

According to court records, police officers investigating the scene of the crime located a bloodstain on glass in a broken window at the point of entry to the building. A sample of the stain was collected and sent to the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation laboratory in Ankeny. Court documents state that on July 6, 2007, the results were received and indicated a DNA match in the Combined Offender Database Index System to Emery through the Florida Department of Corrections.

On July 13, a search warrant was executed to obtain a DNA sample from Emery. Emery was interviewed by Clinton police officers on that date and reportedly admitted living in Clinton during early 2007 and living less than one-half block from the Citadel, but denied knowing the location of the Citadel or having visited it.

In August 2007, Clinton police received a DCI report notifying investigators of a match between the DNA sample collected at the scene and the DNA sample from Emery.

On May 8, Emery pleaded guilty to third-degree theft and was sentenced to serve 60 days in the Cedar County Jail and fined $625. He also pleaded guilty to third-degree burglary and was granted a deferred judgment. He was sentenced to serve two years probation through the Seventh Judicial District Department of Corrections on the conditions he complete a Victim Impact Awareness Program, pay restitution in the amount of $1,315 to The Salvation Army, maintain full-time employment, abstain from alcohol and drugs and submit to random urine analysis. A fine of $750 was suspended.

The theft from the Citadel was the second such theft in two months last year. Following the thefts, Lectronics inc., volunteered to donate a security system to the Citadel.

        

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