Monticello, NY – Christopher Colvill, 41, of Liberty, New York was sentenced today to three to six years in prison for his role in stealing and possessing a $35,000 Torah scroll from the Landfield Avenue Synagogue last December in order to collect the $6,000 reward money. Colvill was also fined $5,000.
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The Times-Herald-Record says (http://bit.ly/P1eXdT) that Judge Mike McGuire told Colvill he was “insensitive” for stealing the scroll, and that he does not believe Colvill really understands the ramifications of his actions.
Judge McGuire said, “You merely reduced it [the scroll] to a chattel.” He referred to the Torah as “the heart and soul” of the synagogue, the congregants, and the spiritual core of the synagogue. “Your spiritually is governed by a dollar sign, evidently,” the Judge added. In response, Colvill said, “I understand the spiritual and the emotional implications and I am deeply sorry.”
Colvill was working as a laborer doing odd jobs for the synagogue. He is a registered sex offender owing to his 1999 first-degree attempted sodomy conviction involving a 4-year-old girl. His rap sheet also includes a 2006 felony attempted assault conviction in Delaware County. In May, Colvill pleaded guilty to felony criminal position of stolen property for burglarizing the synagogue.
In addition to the Torah theft, Colvill also stole an estimated $200 in charity funds. After a multi-agency police search, the Torah was recovered unharmed on January 24 at Colvill’s residence.
Members of the synagogue did not attend Colvill’s sentencing.
What a loser. Kudos to the police. Great ending to the story.
“Thou Shall Not Steal”
Had we had ‘The 7 Noahide Laws’ in effect, none of this would have happened.