By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

COLUMBIANA – A 32-year-old Maylene man will spend the next year in a work release program after he pleaded guilty to stealing more than $1,000 in music equipment and causing $5,000 in damages to a Maylene church.

Arron Michael Cox, who lists an address in the 7800 block of Highway 17, pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree theft of property and two counts of fraudulent use of a credit or debit card during a Dec. 18, 2014, hearing at the Shelby County Courthouse.

Shelby County Circuit Court Judge Dan Reeves originally sentenced Cox to 115 months in prison, but split the sentence between 12 months to serve in the Shelby County work release program followed by three years of supervised probation.

Cox also must pay a total of $3,140 to Cedar Grove Holiness Church, a church member and Region’s Bank.

He must avoid initiating contact with the church, the church member or Region’s Bank in Helena.

At about 9:40 a.m. on Nov. 16, the Cedar Grove Holiness Church in the 7300 block of Shelby County 17 contacted the Alabaster Police Department to report the breaking and entering and theft.

According to the police department’s incident report, a cream and white guitar valued at $400, a Mustang amplifier valued at $300, a Fender electric bass guitar valued at $400 and a fire safe box were stolen from the church.

The theft and damages occurred sometime between 9 a.m. on Nov. 15 and 9:40 a.m. on Nov. 16. Third-degree burglary and second-degree theft of property are both felony charges.

Cox was released from the Shelby County Jail to begin serving his work release sentence on Dec. 18, 2014.