Pair charged in Union County church break-ins during Christmas week

Two people have been accused in a series of church break-ins during the week of Christmas.

Ashley Flowers, 29, of Marshville, and David Ezell Simpson, 65, of Charlotte, are both charged with five counts of felony breaking and entering into a place of worship and four counts of felony larceny after breaking and entering.

Police say the pair stole stereo equipment, televisions and other electronics from five churches and sold them at Charlotte pawnshops.

The churches were all in Union County:

▪ Trinity Reformed Presbyterian Church, 4914 Sikes Mill Road, Monroe.

▪ New Hope Baptist Church, 5928 New Salem Road, Marshville.

▪ Olive Branch Missionary Baptist Church, 9510 Olive Branch Road, Marshville.

▪ Fairfield Baptist Church, 3129 Hwy. 205, Marshville.

▪ Rocky River True Light Church, 2202 Old Fish Road, Monroe.

The Union County Sheriff’s Office said Simpson has a criminal history dating back more than 40 years. In 2007, he was charged with assaulting a police officer. At the time, authorities said Simpson had some items that had recently been stolen from churches.

When Flowers was arrested this week, she was also charged with possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia.

Both are scheduled to make a court appearance Feb. 2. Flowers’ bail was set at $101,000; Simpson’s bail has been set at $150,000.

This story was originally published January 12, 2016 at 4:17 PM with the headline "Pair charged in Union County church break-ins during Christmas week."