No charge in theft of relic from California church

LONG BEACH, Calif. – A woman who allegedly took a 780-year-old relic of St. Anthony from a Roman Catholic church in Southern California will not be prosecuted.

Los Angeles County district attorney's spokeswoman Sandi Gibbons told the Long Beach Press-Telegram Friday that neither St. Anthony's parish in Long Beach nor the Archdiocese of Los Angeles wanted to pursue a case.

Long Beach police said they recovered the relic at the residence of 41-year-old Maria Solis, who was arrested for investigation of burglary. She was seen at five Masses the day before the June 13 theft.

District attorney records say Solis has no prior record, lives near the church at a facility for the mentally ill and it was unlikely it could be proven she entered the church with intent to steal.

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Information from: Press-Telegram, http://www.presstelegram.com