Pair accused of stealing from church

Two people accused of stealing from a church that helped them after Hurricane Harvey have been arrested, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office said Friday.

Blake Mayon, 30, and Naomi Johnston, 36, had been staying at the Dacus Baptist Church on FM 1486 after they were displaced by the hurricane, the sheriff ’s office said in a news release posted on Facebook.

Church staff gave the couple keys to come and go, offered Mayon odd jobs and purchased a Dodge truck for him so that he could get a job and get his family back on their feet, the sheriff’s office said.

During Mayon and Johnston’s stay at the church, the web post states, personnel began noticing tools and other items were missing.

“Shortly thereafter, Blake and Naomi disappeared without notice. Through the course of the investigation, deputies have discovered numerous of the same items stolen from the church were pawned by Blake.”

The sheriff’s office had put out a call to locate Mayon and Johnston. On Friday, it was announced that Mayon had been located and arrested during a traffic stop after a trip to Walmart at Walden Road and Texas 105.

Johnston was arrested a short time later.

Mayon and Johnston are both charged with felony theft and being held in the Montgomery County Jail. Bail amounts were not immediately available.

Lt. Scott Spencer urged the community not to be discouraged from helping others.

“Don’t let the actions of others disturb the good will of humanity and people just because one person(s) did this to somebody and chose to exploit and hurt others,” Spencer said.