July 27 Update
A proceeding concerning the case against Cody Lecroy will be held Tuesday afternoon in Oconee General Sessions Court.
Cordell Maddox will preside according to the Tenth Circuit Solicitor's Office.
Lecroy is charged with the arson of the St. Luke United Methodist Church in July 2009.
Reporting by Fred Cunningham
A young man about to stand trial for burning down a church in Walhalla is now charged with an outbreak of vandalism in Seneca which caused $7,000 in damages, according to Chief John Covington, Seneca Police Department.
Fire destroyed historic St. Luke United Methodist Church in Walhalla on July 7, 2009.
Investigators with the police department arrested the then Cody LeCroy, who was at that time 17 years old.
LeCroy was charged with second degree arson and second degree burglary. Authorities said LeCroy told them that he didn't intend to burn the church down.
Now Covington said the Seneca Police Department has charged LeCroy with 12 counts of malicious damage to property after a rash of vandalism on the south side of that city.
Covington said in each case tires at homes were slashed.
Richard Reams, the new pastor at St. Luke's said the latest charges are sad to hear.
"It hurts my heart," said Reams. "But instead of focusing so much on the past, we've moved to look and see what kind of opportunities the future will bring in spite of the past."
The church already has designs for its new sanctuary, which will be build on the same section of land where the old building stood.
St. Luke's congregation is hosting a community barbeque to try to raise money for the new building. It kicks off Saturday, Aug. 14th at 5 p.m.
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