Posted 8:59 am Friday, December 10, 2010
Law Enforcement, Churches React To News Of Expected Plea
By KENNETH DEAN And REBECCA HOEFFNER
Staff Writers
Staff Writers
It began as a year of terror as multiple churches in East Texas burned to the ground, leaving congregations without a place to worship and teams of firefighters and law enforcement officials trying to catch those responsible.
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"Yay, it's really good news," Smith County Fire Marshal Jim Seaton said after hearing suspects Jason Bourque, 20, and 22-year-old Daniel McAllister and their attorneys told State District Judge Christi Kennedy they would plead guilty to intentionally setting the church fires.
Two pastors of churches that were burned earlier this year say that they're glad the suspects have announced their intent to confess.
"(Confessing) is important for them," said Billy Watson, pastor of Russell Memorial United Methodist Church in Wills Point. "We're in prayer for (the suspects) and their families. We can't imagine what would have caused them to do that."
Between Jan. 1 and Feb. 4 Bourque and McAllister are believed to have torched eight churches in Athens, Canton, Lindale and Tyler. In the predawn of Feb. 7, they are believed to have forced their way into a church in Tyler and during about a one-hour period on the night of Feb. 8, they are believed to have broken into two churches and set fire to two others.
After the number of church fires began to grow, officials formed the East Texas Church Arson Task Force. It was called the largest-scale investigation in East Texas history and at one time had 75 ATF agents, 100 Texas Department of Public Safety troopers, 50 Texas Rangers, 50 state investigators and authorities from three counties on the case. The price tag was said likely to cost taxpayers millions.
Bourque and McAllister were apprehended on Feb. 21.
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Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Supervisory Agent for Tyler Clay Alexander said he was grateful for all of the help from local, state and federal resources and from the public for their help in bringing the investigation to an end.
"I've been a supervisory agent with the bureau for more than 10 years and this is by far the most successful large-scale investigation in my career. The cooperation that went on between all of the agencies involved was just incredible," he said.
Alexander said as the church fires continued, he had many sleepless nights.
"I just worried we had overlooked or missed something. The beginning of 2010 was a hard year for the ATF and all of the agencies and churches involved, but we didn't give up and continued until we had these two suspects behind bars," he said.
Seaton said he did have a point where he wondered if the two men would ever be caught.
"There was a point when myself and several others were thinking will we be able to stop these individuals. Yes. I have to say there was that point for some of us. We were facing the undaunted task with all of the churches in the area and wondering where they might strike next," Seaton said.
The big fear for everyone involved in the investigation was that the arsonists would encounter a church member and someone would get hurt or a firefighter responding to a fire would be injured or killed.
"We were thinking it's just a matter of time," Seaton said.
Despite the damage done to their church, congregants at Lake Athens Baptist Church have spent time praying for the suspects, senior pastor John Green said.
"We've sent flowers to the families," he said. "We hold no resentment."
Both pastors Watson and Green said that, while it was "hurtful," to have their churches targeted, their congregations are better for going through the process.
Russell United Methodist finished construction and rededicated their sanctuary two weeks ago, and Lake Athens Baptist will have help from the Texas Baptist Men and Christian Builders to finish next year and expect to be debt free.
"It's been a long year, but we're so grateful God has blessed us," Green said.
Fellowship of Prairie Creek in Lindale was one of the churches with the least amount of damage. Their remodeling has been finished since June.
"(The suspects) are going through the proper process," co-pastor Camilla Charles said. "And their family is going through the process with them."
The First Church of Christ, Scientist in Tyler was one of the churches with the most damage; construction is expected to be completed around March. While the original building featured a pipe organ, the organ the church received as a donation from Florida is electric.
"We think the organ was specifically targeted," Chairman of the Board Greg Smith said. "It's too expensive to replace it with another pipe organ, and we're trying to be reasonable."
Athens Fire Chief John McQueary said his community needed closure, and Thursday's news would be that closure.
"The fires were devastating and scary at the same time because it was just so random. I think the ATF setting up their team in Athens is what drove the suspects to another area. I am surprised they are going to plead guilty, but then again the evidence against them was pretty overwhelming," he said.
Reflecting on the two months of investigation and the capture of Bourque and McAllister, Alexander said he feels good the case is coming to an end.
"It was a long and hard investigation with many of us spending nights and weeks from our families," he said. "Now that they are pleading guilty, it's very satisfying knowing justice is being served."
