A Houston man faces a felony charge and is jailed on $500,000 bond after being accused of stealing from a local church and making online threats against the organization.
After a Missouri State Highway Patrol investigation that began Saturday night, Perry J. Mace, 55, of 113 Hickory St. in Houston, is charged with first-degree harassment – a class E felony – and misdemeanor stealing.
According to a state trooper’s report, Faith Fellowship Pastor Bill Villapiano discovered that Mace had made Facebook posts that alarmed he and church members. The posts, authorities said, contained proof that Mace has stolen a banner from the church’s fireworks sales operation. He posted two photos with the banner.
During a Saturday night youth event at the church, Mace was observed riding a motorcycle around the parking lot with about 40 teenagers present. A judge later that night issued an order that barred Mace from being on the church campus, and the patrol assisted the church with security.
By Sunday morning, Mace made more threatening posts on his Facebook page against the church.
About 10 a.m. Sunday, Mace again drove onto the lot at Faith Fellowship, this time in a van that had the fireworks banner and the order of protection inside. Three law enforcement officials followed him, and he was met in the parking lot by more authorities.
He was arrested without incident and taken to the Texas County Jail.