Pa. pastor’s niece, boyfriend jailed in burglary


December 31, 2012 at 12:36p.m.

Pa. pastor’s niece, boyfriend jailed in burglary

PITTSBURGH (AP) — A Pittsburgh-area pastor’s niece and her boyfriend have been jailed on charges they burglarized the clergyman’s home while he conducted a Christmas Eve service.

Ross Township police charged 28-year-old Jessica Hirth and her boyfriend, 26-year-old Jeremiah Kelly, both of the township, with burglary, receiving stolen property and criminal conspiracy.

Hirth and Kelley allegedly stole a handgun, laptop, credit cards, personal checks and rare coins the night of Dec. 24 from the home of Rev. Michael Guthrie, pastor of Cornerstone Community Church in Pittsburgh. Guthrie tells police he hopes his niece will seek treatment for the drug problem he believes fueled the burglary.

Online court records don’t list an attorney for Hirth and Kelly who were arrested in a stolen SUV on Saturday in neighboring Butler County.