MORRISTOWN -- Authorities have ruled out bias as the motive in the vandalism of five predominantly black churches after charging a 45-year-old Morristown resident on Sunday.

Zuri C. Towns attended services at one of the churches as a child, Morris County Prosecutor Fredric Knapp said.

"As a result of the investigation, no evidence was obtained that would indicate this was a bias incident which legally requires purpose to intimidate a person or group based upon their protected class," authorities said in a news release announcing the arrest.

Towns has been charged with four counts of fourth-degree criminal mischief and one count of third-degree criminal mischief.

Members of the five churches -- four in Morristown and one in Morris Township -- discovered on Saturday that exterior signs had been broken or damaged. At one church, a stained glass window was shattered.

Authorities launched a bias investigation and Gov.-elect Phil Murphy tweeted a condemnation of "cowardly acts." The pastor of Bethel A.M.E. Church said some congregants were so unsettled by what happened that they opted not to attend Sunday services.

However, the focus shifted after a surveillance video outside Church of God in Christ for All Saints showed a man, later identified by police as Towns, throwing a rock against a window.

Towns lives near the churches and was taken into custody at his residence.

He admitted what he did to authorities and said he acted alone, the prosecutor's office said.

Rob Jennings may be reached at rjennings@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @RobJenningsNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook