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Billings man arrested in assault on nuns

BILLINGS (AP) — Police in Billings have arrested a man in connection with two home-invasion robberies in which three elderly women were assaulted, including two nuns.

Officers say Christopher Pine of Billings is believed to have been involved in the late-night break-ins this week.

Pine, 32, was arrested Friday on suspicion of aggravated burglary and robbery, The Billings Gazette (http://bit.ly/19y4bL9) reported. Yellowstone County jail records indicate Pine was being held on $2,000 bond on a motion to revoke a suspended or deferred sentence.

Pine was arrested by police investigating the similar break-ins. At about midnight Tuesday, intruders beat a 76-year-old woman and took credit cards and her car. About three hours later, two people broke into the home of the two retired nuns, assaulting both and taking a credit card and other items.

The stolen car was recovered, police said Friday.

Sister Mary Vincentia Maronick, 90, and Sister Clara Scherr, 79, were doing well Friday morning, the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth said in a statement. Sherr was moved out of the intensive care unit.

"Our two Sisters are doing well," Sister Maureen Hall, Community Director, Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth, said in an email to the Gazette on Friday. "They are women of deep faith and resilience. Their healing will continue. There is a lot of love in Billings that they are experiencing and that they greatly appreciate."

The other woman was not hospitalized.

 

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