St. Louis man guilty of stealing from churches

Tuesday, August 19, 2008
ST. LOUIS (AP) -- A St. Louis man is sentenced to 15 years in prison for burglarizing several churches, and setting fire to one.

The sentence was handed down Monday for 40-year-old Frank Allen Zdanowski. He had earlier pleaded guilty to 23 charges.

In the arson case, authorities say Zdanowski set fire inside the offices of St. Andrew Presbyterian Church, causing $500,000 in damage. Investigators say the fire was set to cover up the burglary.

Zdanowski is already serving a nine-year term for similar crimes in St. Louis County. Authorities say he is a career criminal who targeted churches at night, stealing to finance his addiction to drugs.