A Lynchburg man will serve two years and one month in prison for damaging a church and stealing ice cream and other food.

Matthew Thomas Beale, 40, was arrested in July on charges of statutory burglary, destruction of property and petit larceny. Beale appeared for sentencing in Campbell Circuit Court on Wednesday.

Campbell County investigators have said they received reports of a break-in the morning of July 24 at First St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church.

Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Rebecca Wetzel has said Beale stole ice cream, creamer and granola bars, totaling about $20 in value. A church official said Beale also kicked in two doors and damaged a television. The damage and subsequent cleanup cost about $2,000, according to the church.

The ice cream was a container of store-brand vanilla, according to the prosecution.

Investigators found Beale that same day lying along Brookneal Highway.

“When he was arrested he had the ice cream on him,” Wetzel has said.

Online court records show Beale faced charges of theft and fraud in Lynchburg before this incident.

Contact Barrett Mohrmann at (434) 385-5531 or bmohrmann@newsadvance.com. Follow The News & Advance's Crime and Public Safety Beat on Facebook: http://facebook.com/NewsadvancePublicSafety.

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