Church Robbery Fells Granny-Beater

The Queens man who brutally beat two elderly grandmothers last spring in Jamaica Estates and Jamaica has added a new chapter to his criminal history.

Police said Jack Rhodes, 45, broke into the All Nations Apostolic Tabernacle Church in Jamaica, Queens on September 25, 2006, where he kicked open several office doors before finding and stealing the church poor box.

Church officials said Rhodes probably found a small amount of cash in the coin box, which a church youth group used to collect money for parishoners.

After emptying the box, Rhodes tossed it away near the church. Thinking the robber may have cut himself on the box, they sent it for a DNA. The blood test revealed that it was Rhodes' blood on the box, police said.

Rhodes has been held on Rikers Island since his arrest on April 27 for attacking the 101-year-old and 85-yearold women on the same day in their Jamaica Estates and Jamaica residences. Rhodes was caught on a surveillance tape punching Rose Morat, 101, in the face and stealing $33 from her purse on March 4, police said. About one hour later and a few blocks away, Rhodes allegedly punched Solange Elizee, 85, in the face and stole $45 and two rings from the feisty grandmother.

"The man is just plain wicked," said Pastor Devon Dawson of the All Nations Apostolic Tabernacle Church. "You just don't steal from a church."- Liz Goff