By Philip Newman
A 24-year-old drifter who declared that he was mad at God has been sentenced to 1 1/2 to 4 1/2 years in prison after pleading guilty to burglary as a hate crime for a series of break-ins in houses of worship in Queens, the district attorney said.
The defendant, Joseph Woznik, who has no permanent address, stole cash, checks, and damaged property belonging to religious institutions in Flushing, Woodside and Elmhurst, according to Queens DA Richard Brown.
The DA said that between March 21, 2017 and April 10,2017 Woznik broke into four houses 0f worship: the Bangladesh Hindu Mandir Temple in Flushing, Blessed Virgin Mary Help of Christians (St. Mary’s of Winfield) in Woodside, Woodside Romanian Orthodox Church in Elmhurst and St. James Episcopal Church in Flushing.
Police said that when Wozniak was arrested he said: “I don’t break into houses, only churches.”
He explained, “I’m mad at God.”
Acting Supreme Court Justice Barry Kron sentenced Woznik to 1 1/2 to 4 1/2 years in prison.
Wozniak pleaded guilty in September to third-degree burglary as a hate crime court, criminal possession of stolen property and bail jumping.
