A man who impersonated a priest and called himself Father Martin to steal from churches around the United States was arrested in California this month, the authorities in Riverside County said.
The man, Malin Rostas, 45, of New York, was taken into custody on April 10 after sheriff’s deputies found a vehicle matching the description of one associated with the burglaries, according to the county sheriff in Riverside, Calif.Mr. Rostas, the driver of the black sedan, was arrested.
Investigators determined that he was the man posing as Father Martin and that he had tried to steal from a church in Moreno Valley, a city about 60 miles east of Los Angeles, the sheriff’s office said.
Mr. Rostas was booked at the Robert Presley Detention Center in Riverside on an outstanding burglary warrant from Pennsylvania.
Additional charges were expected to be filed for the attempted church burglary in Moreno Valley, the authorities said.
Persons:
Father Martin, Malin Rostas, Rostas
Organizations:
Mr, Robert Presley Detention
Locations:
United States, California, Riverside County, New York, Riverside , Calif, Moreno Valley, Los Angeles, Riverside, Pennsylvania