Shortly before 4:00 a.m. one morning, three arsonists kicked in the door of a Georgia church, leaving a trail of gasoline down the aisle from the pulpit to the back of the church. They then ignited a blaze that gutted the sanctuary. At least that's what investigators believe happened to New Life Deliverance Church on Dec. 7, 2005.
Of the three men who have since been charged in connection with the blaze, two pleaded guilty on June 14, 2010 in Barrow County, Ga. Superior Court. The third, a seemingly unlikely suspect, continues to insist that he has no ties to the fire. This man is the church's former pastor, 50-year-old Rev. Quincy Arnold, 50, of Lawrenceville, Ga.
Despite Quincy Arnold's vehement denial of any wrongdoing, prosecutors nevertheless allege that he asked his son, Maurice Arnold, 25, to burn down the church in anticipation of a hefty insurance payout. Authorities believe that Maurice Arnold subsequently enlisted the help of Bruce Smith, 48, of Monroe, Ga.
Investigators from the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives led the initial inquiry, but federal prosecutors opted not to pursue the case. Last year, the case was turned over to the county sheriff's office, which uncovered new details that led to the arrests, said Barrow County Assistant District Attorney James Knox.
Maurice Arnold and Bruce Smith share somewhat checkered pasts. Smith had a string of arrests before he was nabbed in August 2009 in association with the arson. Maurice Arnold has two felony drug convictions on his record. However, aside from past transgressions, the two are at least acknowledging their own guilt pertaining to this case.
Smith has reportedly cooperated with investigators, agreeing to testify at Quincy Arnold's trial. But Maurice Arnold remains loyal to the father who may be hanging him out to dry. In addition to arson, Maurice pleaded guilty to vandalizing a place of worship and conspiracy to commit a crime. Although he admitted to plotting with Smith, Maurice refused to implicate his father. In return for the unexpected guilty plea, prosecutors offered no special sentencing negotiations to him, one local newspaper reported. Moreover, this plea does not affect the case against his father, Knox explained.
While Maurice sits in the county detention center awaiting sentencing, which is slated for July 21, 2010, Smith's fate has apparently been sealed. Having pleaded guilty to one count of first-degree arson, Smith received the sentence of two years in prison and 15 years of probation. Barrow County Superior Court Judge Currie Mingledorff agreed to suspend the prison time if he complies with highly supervised probation. Additionally, Smith will also have to pay a $1,000 fine and $258,000 in restitution.
Quincy Arnold, too, will have to eventually face his fate. He will stand trial this October for charges of first-degree arson, insurance fraud, vandalizing a place of worship, and conspiracy to commit a crime, said Barrow County District Attorney Brad Smith.
Sadly, suspicious church blazes are not entirely uncommon. See also: Baptist Arsonist Faces Penance.
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