Mary Jo Pepin PC: Fox 11 Online
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Mary Jo Pepin is competent to stand trial for allegedly stealing from a church on Christmas Day 2022, a judge ruled Monday.
Meanwhile, her attorney in another attempted theft from a church case in Outagamie County filed a request Friday for a competency exam in that case.
Competency refers to the defendant’s ability to understand court proceedings and assist in their own defense. It does not address their mental state at the time of the alleged crime.
A psychiatrist’s report said while she has mental health issues, Pepin is competent to stand trial, said her attorney, Christopher Froelich.
No trial date has been set. A motions hearing is scheduled for Aug. 1
In Brown County, Pepin, 67, faces charges for incidents at two churches.
According to the criminal complaint, police responded to Our Lady of Lourdes Church in De Pere at about 5 p.m. Christmas Day 2022. Footprints were found, but no one was found in the building. Security video showed images of the same woman believed to be responsible for trespassing incidents on several other dates. She’s charged with burglary and theft.
Pepin also faces a misdemeanor charge, filed in April, for “entry into a building” for a Nov. 12, 2022, incident at St. Philip the Apostle Church.
In Outagamie County, Pepin faces an attempted theft charge for a Feb. 5, 2023 incident at St. Pius X Church in Appleton. No trial date has been set. She has a July 30 hearing set.
According to the criminal complaint, a woman in the church spotted Pepin and recognized her from coverage of the Brown County church incidents.
“Mary walked into the parish and sat down in a chair. Mary sat in the chair for a short amount of time before getting up and walking over to some candles that had a locked donations box attached nearby. Mary began attempting to retrieve the cash from the box using a slim wood stick used to light the candles. (The witness) observed this and went into the parish where Mary was. (The witness) believes that when Mary saw (her) it spooked her and she left. (The witness) did not think that Mary was able to successfully retrieve any money,” the complaint states.
Pepin told police when she “lit the candle, she advised that a piece of ash got into the box and she was attempting to put the ash out.”
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