Meadville man jailed for alleged church vandalism

A Meadville man is behind bars for allegedly vandalizing two city churches earlier this year as well as exposing himself.

Richard A. Lowe, 364 Pine St., has been arrested and charged by Meadville Police Department with two counts each of vandalizing a place of worship and intentional desecration of public monument plus one count each of indecent exposure and harassment.

Police allege there were separate incidents of church vandalism that took place on different days at St. Agatha Roman Catholic Church at Pine and South Main streets and at The Altar International House of Prayer on Park Avenue.

Lowe is accused by police of urinating on a door of St. Agatha on Jan. 5 and of using a permanent marker to write a derogatory message with vulgar language on a sign outside of The Altar International House of Prayer on Feb. 13.

Police allege Lowe harassed the staff at The Altar International House of Prayer by leaving at least 31 separate messages on the door, under the door and on a sign at that church between Jan. 8 and Feb. 13.

Police also accuse Lowe of exposing himself to people driving by while Lowe was standing on the front lawn and on the porch of his Pine Street home on Jan. 5.

Lowe was arraigned on the charges Wednesday afternoon before Magisterial District Judge Samuel Pendolino.

During his arraignment, Lowe admitted to the judge to having mental health and alcohol issues.

Lowe was placed in the Crawford County jail in Saegertown in lieu of $10,000 bond.

A preliminary hearing to determine if Lowe should go to trial in the county Court of Common Pleas on the charges is scheduled before Pendolino on March 28.

If convicted in county court on all counts, Lowe faces up to 15 years and three months in jail and $35,300 in fines.

Keith Gushard can be reached at 724-6370 or by email at kgushard@meadvilletribune.com.