By Janice Morse
The Cincinnati Enquirer

HAMILTON - Two men face charges in a series of break-ins that included safecracking at a school, stealing prom dresses from a store and taking Christmas presents and more than $6,000 worth of sound equipment from a church, police and court records show.

In Butler County grand jury indictments released Thursday, Brian Duckworth, 22, and Rodney Allen Simpson, 32, both of Hamilton, are accused of offenses reported in November and December.

Both are charged with four counts of breaking and entering, and a count each of safecracking and attempted breaking and entering. Mr. Duckworth also faces four theft charges; Mr. Simpson, five theft charges and a burglary charge.

The potential prison sentences range from three months to eight years.

Mr. Simpson previously was sentenced to a year in prison for a 1994 convicted of attempting to receive stolen property in Butler County.

Authorities found stolen property at Mr. Simpson's home, said David Kash, a Butler County assistant prosecutor.

Police reports say the men were arrested Dec. 20 in connection with a number of offenses, including:

The Nov. 27 break-in at Those Blooming Kids, a resale shop at 1526 Plaza Drive, where more than $870 worth of goods, including prom dresses, was stolen.

The Dec. 6 break-in at Timberhill Baptist Church, 144 Timberhill Drive, which reported Christmas presents and more than $6,000 worth of sound equipment missing.

The Dec. 19 break-in at McKinley Kindergarten Center, 931 Westview Ave., where someone pried open a safe and took money and a credit card.

E-mail jmorse@enquirer.com