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http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-01-07-ChurchFires-me_N.htm?csp=34
2 Ala. men arrested in rural church arsons
01-07-2008
PHENIX CITY, Ala. (AP) - Two men who authorities said dabbled in satanism
have been arrested in connection with a recent rash of arson and vandalism
at rural churches.
Satanic graffiti was scrawled at or near some of the east Alabama churches,
including "Teach children to worship Satan!!", which was painted on a Sunday
school classroom wall.
Geoffrey Parquette and James Clark were arrested Sunday and pleaded not
guilty Monday. The 21-year-old suspects "called themselves professed
spiritual satanists," Russell County Sheriff Tommy Boswell said Monday.
Fires were set at three churches over four days beginning Jan. 1, destroying
one of the buildings, and a task force of federal, state and local
authorities was formed last week to investigate. Satanic graffiti was found
in or near two of the churches and a fourth that was not burned.
Authorities told church members that Parquette's grandmother, whom he lives
with, helped them solve the case, said Derrick Millirons, a member of
Woodland Baptist Church. The classroom graffiti were left in that church,
which suffered heavy damage to its sanctuary in a fire Friday.
A brass cross taken from a church was found at the grandmother's home by the
housekeeper, Millirons said. He said that Parquette told his grandmother
that Clark gave it to him, but that she called authorities when he left and
she found other items taken from churches.
Jim Cavanaugh, regional director of the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco,
Firearms and Explosives, said crosses, robes and documents were taken from
the churches. Investigators found some of these items at the homes of the
suspects, he said.
Boswell, the sheriff, said Parquette and Clark, both of the Smiths community
in Lee County, were not part of any organized group.
Parquette is charged with second-degree arson, third-degree burglary and
criminal mischief in Russell and Lee counties. Clark is charged with
second-degree arson and burglary in Lee County.
Neither had an attorney Monday, and both remained in custody. Bond was set
at $200,000 for Parquette. No bond was immediately set for Clark.
The Rev. James D. Parker, pastor at Greater Peace and Goodwill AME Church,
said its 40 members were ecstatic over the arrests and not surprised about
the allegations regarding satanism.
"You're going to have people like that. Even when you serve the Lord, you're
got to realize there are two sides," said Parker, whose Russell County
church was moderately damaged in a New Year's Day fire.
The arrests came two years after another string of deliberately set fires at
rural Alabama churches led to a major federal-state investigation. Three
Birmingham college students were arrested, pleaded guilty and were sentenced
to prison.
2 Ala. men arrested in rural church arsons
01-07-2008
PHENIX CITY, Ala. (AP) - Two men who authorities said dabbled in satanism
have been arrested in connection with a recent rash of arson and vandalism
at rural churches.
Satanic graffiti was scrawled at or near some of the east Alabama churches,
including "Teach children to worship Satan!!", which was painted on a Sunday
school classroom wall.
Geoffrey Parquette and James Clark were arrested Sunday and pleaded not
guilty Monday. The 21-year-old suspects "called themselves professed
spiritual satanists," Russell County Sheriff Tommy Boswell said Monday.
Fires were set at three churches over four days beginning Jan. 1, destroying
one of the buildings, and a task force of federal, state and local
authorities was formed last week to investigate. Satanic graffiti was found
in or near two of the churches and a fourth that was not burned.
Authorities told church members that Parquette's grandmother, whom he lives
with, helped them solve the case, said Derrick Millirons, a member of
Woodland Baptist Church. The classroom graffiti were left in that church,
which suffered heavy damage to its sanctuary in a fire Friday.
A brass cross taken from a church was found at the grandmother's home by the
housekeeper, Millirons said. He said that Parquette told his grandmother
that Clark gave it to him, but that she called authorities when he left and
she found other items taken from churches.
Jim Cavanaugh, regional director of the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco,
Firearms and Explosives, said crosses, robes and documents were taken from
the churches. Investigators found some of these items at the homes of the
suspects, he said.
Boswell, the sheriff, said Parquette and Clark, both of the Smiths community
in Lee County, were not part of any organized group.
Parquette is charged with second-degree arson, third-degree burglary and
criminal mischief in Russell and Lee counties. Clark is charged with
second-degree arson and burglary in Lee County.
Neither had an attorney Monday, and both remained in custody. Bond was set
at $200,000 for Parquette. No bond was immediately set for Clark.
The Rev. James D. Parker, pastor at Greater Peace and Goodwill AME Church,
said its 40 members were ecstatic over the arrests and not surprised about
the allegations regarding satanism.
"You're going to have people like that. Even when you serve the Lord, you're
got to realize there are two sides," said Parker, whose Russell County
church was moderately damaged in a New Year's Day fire.
The arrests came two years after another string of deliberately set fires at
rural Alabama churches led to a major federal-state investigation. Three
Birmingham college students were arrested, pleaded guilty and were sentenced
to prison.
