New Charges for Admitted Church Arsonists

Two men already facing life imprisonment for torching a series of East Texas churches face new arson charges.

A Henderson County grand jury on Tuesday indicted 21-year-old Jason Robert Bourque on three arson counts, and 23-year-old Daniel George McAllister on two arson counts. In a statement, Henderson County District Attorney Scott McKee said bonds of $500,000 were set against each defendant.

The pair were sentenced Monday after pleading guilty to arson counts in neighboring Smith County.

Nobody was hurt in last year's blazes that damaged or destroyed 10 churches, leading to an investigation that included state and federal arson experts.

Three churches were burned in Athens in Henderson County, two in Van Zandt County and five in Smith County.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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