Some say its one of the lowest things you can do – burglarize a church. But one Selma man obviously didn’t think of the consequences when he broke into New Hope Baptist Church on Hwy. 80 E. last year.

Now Allen Wayne Simmons, 29, will spend time in prison under the Habitual Offender Act, which is designed to isolate and identify repeated offenders through a graduated sentencing process.

Circuit Judge Jack Meigs recently sentenced Simmons to a 17 year sentence to run concurrent with a previous burglary charge.

According to the District Attorney’s office Simmons broke into the church which is near his home at Craig Hill Trailer Park on Aug. 30, 2001. Once inside, Simmons removed several pieces of music equipment, including an amplifier, mixer board, equalizer, and two speakers from the church.

He then asked two friends who lived in the trailer park to help him move the stolen goods to a wooded area near the church.

Sheriff’s deputies arrested Simmons on Sept. 6, 2001 and charged him with burglary first degree.

Strangely enough, Simmons never got a chance to sell the stolen items. He agreed to return the items taken from the church, but when he took deputies to the location where he left the items, someone had removed the property.

District Attorney Ed Greene explained that because Simmons had a previous burglary charge, he was sentenced under the Habitual Offender Law which enhances the sentencing for repeated offenders.

“Alot of people think of the Habitual Offender Act as the so called three strikes and you’re out. That’s a huge misnomer. If a person commits one crime (felony), then the next time they are charged with a crime the sentencing would be enhanced and moved up to another level, which are classified as an A, B, or C class felony,” Greene said.