By
The Associated Press
Published: Mon, January 07, 2008 - 3:19 pm
in a rash of church arsons and vandalism in rural east Alabama.
Authorities said today satanic graffiti were scrawled at two
churches.
Russell County Sheriff Tommy Boswell said - quote - "these guys
called themselves professed spiritual satanists."
State Fire Marshal Ed Paul identified the two in custody as
Geoffrey Parquette and James Clark, both of the Smiths community in
Lee County. Boswell said the men were not part of any organized
group but had known each other a long time and dabbled in satanism.
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.
A fire New Year's Day caused moderate damage to the Greater
Peace and Goodwill AME Church in Crawford in Russell County, a fire
early Thursday destroyed Greater Bethelpore Baptist Church in
Smiths Station in Lee County and a fire Friday morning caused
moderate damage to the Woodland Baptist Church in the Ladonia
community near Phenix City.
Authorities said Woodland Baptist Church also was vandalized. A
graveyard next to Bethelpore Baptist Church was vandalized and
satanic graffiti was painted in a fourth church, Concord Baptist.
The arrests came just two years after another string of
deliberately set fires at rural churches in west Alabama led to the
arrest of three Birmingham college students.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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