WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — A man who pleaded guilty in July to vandalizing a Catholic church in north Wichita has been sentenced.
The Sedgwick County District Attorney's Office announced Friday that Michael Gonzalez was sentenced to 34 months in prison for the March 15 vandalism of St. Patrick Catholic Church near 21st Street and Arkansas Avenue.
Police were called to the church after staff found significant damage, including hate speech graffiti, a burned U.S. flag and destroyed religious items, including a statue of St. Patrick.
Gonzalez was arrested in the early morning hours the next day. During his July plea hearing, he admitted to the judge that when he vandalized the church, he had just been released from prison, was addicted to heroin and fentanyl, and was having mental health issue