Texas Church Fire Suspects Indicted

A grand jury has indicted two men in a string of arson fires at east Texas churches this year, a prosecutor said, announcing multiple charges.

Jason Robert Bourque, 20, was indicted on five counts of arson and three counts of attempted arson, Smith County District Attorney Matt Bingham told the Tyler Morning-Telegraph. Daniel George McAllister, 22, faces two counts of arson and two counts of attempted arson, he said.

The men were charged in one fire after their February arrests and were suspected of setting up to nine others. Nobody was injured in the blazes.

Bourque and McAllister were held on $10 million bond each and face up to life in prison if convicted.

Bingham’s assistant told The Associated Press that she didn’t have copies of the indictments returned May 13. A court official and defense attorneys didn’t return phone calls seeking comment.

Bingham declined to discuss the indictments in further detail, citing a judge’s gag order.

Investigators used security videotapes and shoe prints to help them link Bourque and McAllister to two of the fires, according to arrest warrant affidavits. Both men were arrested two weeks after those Feb. 8 blazes.

Information from: Tyler Morning Telegraph