Woodbury Man Sentenced in New Life Church and Academy Burglary

A Woodbury man was recently sentenced on a burglary conviction after he stole several items from New Life Church and Academy in August 2011.

James Howard Smith, 30, had a 21-month prison sentence stayed and was placed on probation for five years on the grounds that he remain law abiding and have no contact with the institution, among other conditions.

Woodbury police the evening of Aug. 19, 2011, were dispatched to New Life Church and Academy on a report that someone was inside the building.

Officers searched the complex and made contact with an employee, who told them he saw a man inside the school who ran away.

On Aug. 22, a school official contacted police about several missing items, electronics valued at nearly $3,000 total, according to the criminal complaint.

Surveillance video captured images of the suspect, and police were able to identify the man as Smith, who lives nearby on York Circle, the complaint says. The next day the employee who saw the man positively identified Smith in a photo lineup.

Police conducted surveillance of the home, saw Smith leaving and took him into custody. A search warrant was executed on the house, where officers recovered some of the stolen items, according to the complaint. Additional items were found in Smith’s vehicle.

On Aug. 23, police interviewed Smith, who initially denied being at the school and told officers a man named “Green Eyes” was the perpetrator, the complaint says.

After being shown images of him carrying the stolen goods, Smith told police he was sorry and he was carrying a box that “Green Eyes” had given him, according to the complaint.

Police were able to identify the individual known as Green Eyes, and learned that he was in custody in Ramsey County at the time of the theft.

All the missing items were eventually recovered.

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