Michael Scott Wissler targeted local churches, salons, medical offices and other businesses after-hours during a three-month spree of burglaries in 2008.

On Wednesday, he admitted to pulling 44 jobs in all — including about 30 at area churches.

The tally for the stolen goods and damages caused exceeded $74,000, prosecutors said.

Wissler, 39, and his attorney, Daniel Kaye, were to begin selecting jurors for trial Wednesday morning, but instead, the city man decided to plead guilty.

County President Judge Joseph Madenspacher accepted guilty pleas to a long list of felonies and will sentence Wissler within three months.

Wissler, who served time in state prison for prior burglaries, potentially could spend the rest of his life in prison, according to sentencing guidelines based on maximum penalties.

Wissler is accused of breaking into dozens of buildings in the city and surrounding suburbs from October through December in 2008.

Most of the time, the buildings were vacant, but Wissler did encounter individuals at three of the churches, investigators said.

He used a crowbar to get inside many of the buildings. Once inside, he stole items such as cash, stamps, snacks and in one case, a can of coffee, police said.

Wissler also caused more than $74,000 in damages, First Assistant District Attorney Christopher Larsen said. He will be required to pay back that money.

No motive was provided in court Wednesday.

The break-ins went unsolved until police caught up with Wissler inside a city home on Dec. 30, 2008. Police were called to a domestic dispute on South Franklin Street and found Wissler in the house. A yellow bicycle and a green book bag containing a crowbar, described by witnesses in burglaries that night, was in the backyard.

Police later linked more evidence to Wissler.

He's been at Lancaster County Prison since being arrested that night.

bhambright@lnpnews.com