EDWARDSVILLE – Charges have been filed against two people allegedly seen on video stealing tools from an Edwardsville church before listing them for sale on Facebook Marketplace.
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Bartholomew Johnson, 42, of Madison, Ill., and April D. Respalie, 43, listed as homeless out of Granite City, were both charged on Nov. 5, 2025 with one count each of burglary (both Class 1 felonies) and theft (both Class 3 felonies).
On Oct. 31, 2025, the two allegedly knowingly and without authority entered St. Boniface Catholic Church in Edwardsville with the intent to commit a theft. Both are additionally accused of stealing over $500 worth of power tools from the church.
Petitions to deny pretrial release from custody for Johnson and Respalie were filed by the Madison County State’s Attorney’s Office. According to both petitions, the stolen tools were listed for sale online before being found in Johnson and Respalie’s possession.
“Defendant was identified as one of two subjects who entered a church on video, stealing tools from an attached shed and items from inside the church,” both petitions state. “Officers located defendant and co-defendant still in possession of the tools after finding them listed on Facebook Marketplace.”
The petitions add that both Johnson and Respalie were already under conditions of release from previous cases at the time of these latest offenses, and that both have a history of failing to appear in court.
The Edwardsville Police Department presented both of the cases against Johnson and Respalie, both of whom currently remain in custody at the Madison County Jail.
All individuals charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
