Nov 6, 2007 6:02 pm US/Eastern
Homeless Man Uses Church Phone To Call Sex Hotline
CLARKSTOWN, N.Y. (CBS) ―
A homeless man is accused of dialing up trouble at a Rockland County church after police say he broke in at least twice to use a church phone to call a sex hotline.
Elim Alliance Church prides itself as a place that welcomes everyone. But James Macnair, a homeless man, pushed the limits of hospitality and allegedly broke the law in the process.
"He broke into the church in Valley Cottage to use the phone there to call a sex hotline," said Clarkstown Police Sgt. Harry Baumann.
Sgt. Baumann says he's never seen a case like this in all his years. The trouble began on Friday when Macnair allegedly picked the lock and entered the church. The church treasurer stopped by and found Macnair in the office on the phone, and told him to leave, but didn't call the police.
On Monday, when the church treasurer stopped by again, she found Macnair in the basement of the building, in an area used as a nursery for children, and he was again on the phone.
This time, however, she did call the police, who determined Macnair used the phone to call phone sex hotlines, like the ones that advertise in various newspapers.
Local residents were shocked and disgusted.
"It's sad, very sad," said Rockland County resident Cathy Sullivan.
"My understanding is he's homeless, he doesn't have a phone. This is the place that he found a phone," said Baumann.
Macnair now has a new home -- the Rockland County jail, where he's being held without bail due to prior felony convictions.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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