Churchgoers stop blasphemer from getting away with stolen Hosts

Man charged with stealing communion wafers from Jensen Beach priest

By staff report

Monday, November 10, 2008

JENSEN BEACH — Parishioners at St. Martin de Porres Catholic Church stopped a man from leaving Saturday morning Mass after he "attempted to steal a handful of communion wafers from the priest," according to an arrest report.

Martin County sheriff's deputies found six to seven parishioners holding down John Samuel Ricci, 33, of Canton, Conn., when they arrived around 9:30 a.m. at the church, located on Northeast Savannah Boulevard.

Ricci had tried to leave the church after grabbing the communion wafers, but "the enraged and offended parishioners stood in his way," the report said.

Ricci got angry, cursed at the parishioners and even pushed two of them to the ground, according to the report. One suffered minor injuries, while another was taken to the hospital complaining of chest pain.

Deputies arrested Ricci and charged him with two counts of simple battery, theft and disruption of a religious assembly. He was still being held Sunday afternoon at the Martin County Jail on $2,000 bond.