By Garrett Neese

gneese@mininggazette.com

HOUGHTON – A Copper Country man pleaded guilty Friday to breaking into local churches and stealing money in Houghton County Circuit Court Monday.

Michael Cote, 20, pleaded guilty to attempted breaking and entering with intent, a five-year felony; attempted larceny in a building, a two-year high court misdemeanor; and attempted malicious destruction of property of $1,000 or more but less than $20,000, a two-year high court misdemeanor.

Cote said he stole money from both Glad Tidings Assembly of God Church in and Zion Lutheran Church in Hancock, and also broke windows and an organ bench inside Zion.

Cote said he broke into Zion by throwing rocks through a window. His reason for breaking in was to steal money, he said. He took about $50.

“I honestly don’t know,” he said, when asked his reason for stealing the money.

While inside, he broke three or four additional windows, he said, and threw an organ bench down a stairway. The damage to the windows was estimated by Keweenaw Glass & Door at $1,500.

When Judge Charles Goodman asked Cote his reasons for breaking the inside windows, Cote said “I couldn’t tell you.”

In exchange for Cote’s guilty plea, three other felony counts were dismissed, as was another case in district court.

Cote will be sentenced in about four weeks.