A Martin County man was arrested on Friday night, December 14, 2018, not long after members of a local church found the man unwrapping Christmas presents underneath a tree in their church.

According to a press release report by the Martin County Sheriff’s Department,deputies were called after the church parishioners discovered and interrupted a burglary in progress.

When the church members confronted the man, the deputy’s report stated that suspect hurriedly covered his face with a mask and fled the area on foot into the steady rain.

After the Martin County Sheriff’s Department was contacted and when officers arrived at the scene, the church members were able to identify the man.

According to Martin County deputy Aaron Blevins, he went to the home of 50 year old Daniel Lowe, in the Pilgrim area of Martin County.Once at the Lowe residence, deputy Blevins found wet clothing and a mask, matching the description given by the church member, as well as boots that matched a wet footprint left at the scene.

Daniel Lowe was arrested by deputy Blevins and was transported to the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center and was charged with 2nd degree burglary, a Class C felony, which is punishable from 5 to 10 years prison.

Lowe remain incarcerated as the BSRDC in Paintsville as of Friday morning, December 21.

The Martin County Sheriff’s Department is continuing to investigate the church burglary incident.