Matthew Sies
(PCSD file photo)
By Patti Weaver
(Stillwater, Okla.) — A 49-year-old man who admitted breaking a statue of Christ’s mother in front of St. John’s Catholic Church in Stillwater has been placed on seven years’ probation with an order to pay $1,000 restitution, a $500 fine and $50 to the victims’ compensation fund as well as undergo random drug tests, maintain full-time employment and perform 100 hours of community service.
Associate District Judge Michael Kulling told the defendant, Matthew Christopher Sies, in court last week that if he successfully completed the terms of his probation under a seven-year deferred sentence, his guilty plea to the felony of malicious injury to a house of worship could be expunged from Payne County records.
Sies, whose address was unknown, was arrested on Aug. 15 and jailed on $5,000 bail until Nov. 5 when the judge approved his plea agreement with the prosecution.
According to video footage, the vandalism occurred at about 11:30 pm on June 20, Stillwater Police Officer Justin Sappington wrote in an affidavit.
Father Kerry Wakulich “sent me two still photographs from the video which depicted the suspect. I sent the photos out to all of SPD sworn staff via email and Master Police Officer Houston advised the suspect in the video looked like Matthew Christopher Sies,” whom he and Master Police Officer Vassar had contacted on June 19 at about 9:13 am at Our Daily Bread, Officer Sappington wrote in his affidavit.
“MPO Houston later pulled his body cam footage from the contact and sent me two still shots” that appear to be the same person as the suspect who vandalized the statue, Officer Sappington wrote in his affidavit.
“Myself, MPO Houston and MPO Vassar all believe the suspect in the video to be Matthew Sies,” whose location was unknown, the affidavit said.
The statue that is six feet tall and depicts Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ, was hand-carved in Italy in 2013 and valued at $20,000, the affidavit said.
“Father Wakulich advised the statue was previously kept in the church grotto for safety, but when the new church was built, they decided to display it,” the affidavit said.
