Norwalk Man Jailed for Series of Burglaries at Religious Institutions in Orange County

A 39-year-old Norwalk man suspected in a series of burglaries at religious institutions in Orange County was behind bars today, the last of four suspects arrested for the crimes, an Irvine police lieutenant said.

James Allen Dorscht, who was being held in lieu of $20,000 bail, was arrested Tuesday as he left a relative's apartment on Loara Street in Anaheim, said Irvine police Lt. Julia Engen.

With his three alleged accomplices behind bars, Dorscht is accused of burglarizing Our Lady of Peace Korean Catholic Center in Irvine about 11 p.m. Monday, Engen said.

A free-standing safe containing cash was dragged out of the center, Engen said. Police recovered the cash and stolen safe Tuesday night in the relative's home, Engen said.

Dorscht is also a suspect in burglaries of the Islamic Center of Irvine and the Mandir Hindu temple in Irvine, Engen said.

Co-defendants Robert Lee Dennis, 45, and Fernando Flores, 21, are due in court for a pretrial hearing June 25. Co-defendant Daniel Ruben Cortes, 29, of Santa Ana, is due in court for a pretrial hearing Thursday.

Dennis, Flores and Cortes have all pleaded not guilty.

The three are suspected in multiple burglaries in Anaheim, Irvine and Santa Ana.

Cortes' arrest provided some help to Irvine investigators, whose big break came when they got a DNA hit matching Dennis at one burglary, Engen said.

Cortes was arrested following a short car chase, Santa Ana police Cpl. Anthony Bertagna said.

After investigators released a surveillance video photo of a suspect wearing a Chicago White Sox cap as the trio broke into Forty Martyrs Armenian Church, 5315 W. McFadden Ave., on May 1, police received a tip that Cortes was the man officers were seeking, Bertagna said.

Police waited on Cortes' car and arrested him shortly after he got into the vehicle and tried to get away, Bertagna said.

In the most recent heist May 1, three burglars broke into the Armenian church in the 5300 block of West McFadden Avenue about 4 a.m. and stole a safe containing about $15,000, Bertagna said.

Most of the money was proceeds from a bingo game held just hours earlier, he said.

Finding the safe took about an hour, Bertagna said. Torres, who was wearing a Chicago White Sox cap, tried to break a surveillance camera with a screwdriver, but he instead provided police with a clear, close-up image of himself, Bertagna said.

Flores is charged with first-degree burglary, second-degree burglary and possession of a controlled substance, all felonies, as well as possession of drug paraphernalia, a misdemeanor.

Dennis is charged with one count of first-degree burglary, two counts of second-degree burglary, possession of a deadly weapon, and possession of a firearm by a felon, all felonies, and misdemeanor possession of burglary tools.

Cortes is charged with two counts of second-degree burglary, and one count each of grand theft, receiving stolen property and possession of a controlled substance, all felonies, as well as misdemeanor evading police.

- City News Service