Former Stony Point Resident Gets Prison Time For Breaking Into Wilkes County Churches

A former Stony Point resident charged with breaking into a pair of Eastern Wilkes County churches and stealing items will serve 58 and 82 months in prison following a plea in Wilkes Superior Court on May 1st.

32-year old Joshua Phillip Ostwalt of Hickory was sentenced after he pleaded guilty to two counts each of felony breaking into a place of worship and felony larceny.

The 2022 charges are in connection with break-ins and larcenies at Brier Creek Baptist Church on Old 60 in Roaring River and Mountain Valley Missionary Baptist Church on South Plum Ridge Road in the Cranberry community.

The judge ordered that Ostwalt pay $1,500 to Brier Creek and $500 to Mountain Valley. He also ordered that he testify truthfully in the trial of his co-defendant, Gabriel Alexander Phipps, 29, of Ronda. Phipps faces charges similar to those filed against Ostwalt, plus three counts of felony habitual breaking and entering one count of being a habitual felony.

Phipps has yet to go to trial.