Cousins Convicted of Redwood City Church Burglary

By Bay City News, image via Shutterstock

Two cousins pleaded no contest Monday to felony charges for burglarizing a church deacon in Redwood City during services last year, prosecutors said.

John Beskalis, 26, and Peter Beskalis, 24, were caught when they stopped to fix a fence they broke as they ran from the burglary. The 74-year-old homeowner confronted them and handed them a hammer, according to the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office.

John Beskalis pleaded no contest to felony possession of stolen property and misdemeanor brandishing a weapon, prosecutors said.

He was sentenced to three years of probation and no jail time. Peter Beskalis pleaded no contest to a felony count of possession of stolen property. He was sentenced to 90 days in jail and three years of probation, according to prosecutors.

A third cousin, Daniel Beskalis, 19, failed to appear for a court appearance last year and has a $100,000 warrant out for his arrest.

The burglary was reported at about 12:30 p.m. during church services at the Coptic Orthodox Church at 401 Hudson St. in Redwood City on Sept. 7.

The church deacon’s daughter noticed the apartment she shares with her father had been burglarized of a laptop, cellphones, jewelry and cash. She told her father, who announced it to the congregation and said everyone should stay while they sorted it out.

But the three cousins bolted out of their seats toward the door. Some church members chased them but two of the cousins turned and pointed pocketknives at the parishioners, prosecutors said.

They ran into the yard of a nearby home, where they damaged a fence. The woman who lives there saw them and confronted them, demanding they fix the fence.

One of the cousins offered her $40, but she refused and handed them a hammer. They remained there fixing the fence until police arrived and arrested them. Some of the stolen items were found on them while the rest was found in a bag hidden in the church, prosecutors said.