GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (KSNB) – A man who police say vandalized a Grand Island church in February 2023 will go to prison.

Hall County District Court Judge Andrew Butler sentenced Seth Ketelhut, 38, to 12 to 18 years in prison for felony burglary. Ketelhut did not contest the charge. Six more were dropped as part of a plea deal.

Judge Butler said this sentence will run concurrently with the sentence he is currently serving for a crime he committed in Cass County.

Grand Island Police arrested Ketelhut in February 2023 after a break-in and standoff at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in downtown Grand Island.

According to police, Ketelhut was accused of breaking windows to enter the church, as well as defecating on several Bibles, damaging crosses, and drawing hate symbols on church walls.

SWAT had to be called after he barricaded himself inside the church, according to police.

Court records also show Ketelhut threw rocks at the windows of the office where the Grand Island Independent newspaper is located early that morning. He is also accused of damaging the vehicle by climbing on the roof of the vehicle and jumping up and down.

Copyright 2023 KSNB. All rights reserved.