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Indictments announced in the Alabama Church Fires

May 3, 2006 - (MONTGOMERY)�Attorney General Troy King today announced indictments bringing multiple state charges against three defendants accused of burning churches throughout rural Alabama in February. The defendants � Matthew Lee Cloyd, 20, of Indian Springs; Benjamin Nathan Moseley, 20, of Birmingham, and Russell Lee Debusk, 19, of Birmingham�face a total of 46 felony counts related to the church burnings. They have been served notice of the state charges and remain at the Shelby County Jail, where they have been held under federal jurisdiction since their arrests on March 8 for federal charges related to the same church fires.

"I have said from the beginning that there is nothing any more despicable than a cowardly attack under the cover of darkness against a house of worship. It is an attack upon our values, upon decency, and upon our way of life. These three men did just that. Many have said that these were just college pranks, that this was a joke that got out of hand. It was not a joke then, it is not a joke now. These were serious attacks against the very hearts of the communities involved," said Attorney General King.

For each church in which they are charged, the defendants face one count of second-degree arson and one count of third-degree burglary. Cloyd and Moseley are charged in connection with a total of nine fires in Bibb, Greene, Sumter and Pickens counties. Therefore, Cloyd is charged with nine counts of second-degree arson and nine counts of third-degree burglary, for a total of 18 counts. Moseley also is charged with nine counts of second-degree arson and nine counts of third-degree burglary, for a total of 18 counts. Debusk is charged in connection with the five fires in Bibb County. He is charged with five counts of second-degree arson and five counts of third-degree burglary, for a total of 10 counts.

Attorney General King personally presented evidence to three of the four grand juries. The following indictments were returned:

� A Bibb County grand jury returned indictments on April 1 against Cloyd, Moseley and Debusk related to the burglary and arson of five churches that burned on February 3: Rehobeth Baptist Church in Lawley, Ashby Baptist Church in Brierfield, Antioch Baptist Church in Centreville, Pleasant Sabine Baptist Church in Centreville and Old Union Baptist Church in Brierfield.

� A Sumter County grand jury returned indictments on March 21 against Cloyd and Moseley related to the burglary and arson of two churches that burned on February 7: Spring Valley Baptist Church in Gainesville and Galilee Baptist Church in Panola.

� A Greene County grand jury returned indictments on April 4, 2006 against Cloyd and Moseley related to the burglary and arson of Morning Star Baptist Church in Boligee, which burned on February 7.

� A Pickens County grand jury returned indictments on March 27 against Cloyd and Moseley related to the burglary and arson of Dancy First Baptist Church in Aliceville.

Specifically, in the above listed indictments:

� Each arson charge states that the defendant intentionally damaged a building by starting or maintaining a fire or causing an explosion in violation of Code of Alabama Section 13A-17-42. Second-degree arson is a class B felony, with each count punishable by two to 20 years imprisonment and a fine of up to $10,000

� Each burglary charge states that the defendant knowingly entered or remained unlawfully in the church building with intent to commit a crime, in violation of Section 13A-7-7. Third-degree burglary is a class C felony punishable by one to 10 years imprisonment and fines of up to $5,000 for each count.

"Because of these fires, a reign of terror gripped Alabama and riveted the eyes of the nation upon us. When this began, I repeated words that my grandfather used to tell me, that a man's evil deeds will find him out. We come here today because of the truth that still resides in these old words, because I believe that their deeds have found them out. We are announcing this morning that we have taken the first step to ensuring that justice will be had," said Attorney General King.

Attorney General King praised the untiring cooperative efforts among state, local and federal agencies in investigating and prosecuting the church arsons. Attorney General King thanked District Attorneys Michael Jackson for Bibb County, Chris McCool for Pickens County, and Greg Griggers for Sumter and Greene counties; and Sheriffs Johnny Hatter for Sumter County, Johnny Isaac for Greene County, David Abston for Pickens County and Keith Hannah for Bibb County. He commended Assistant Attorney General Will Dill of his Violent Crimes Division and Special Investigator Darrell Sambor of his Investigations Division.

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