The pastor of an Albany, Ga., church has been charged with first degree arson in connection with a fire that did severe damage to the church, the Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner’s office said.
The Rev. Joseph Howard III, 45, and Curtis Lee Jones, 46, were charged with one count each of first degree arson in the Dec. 31 fire at Trinity Metropolitan Baptist Church, said Glenn Allen, a spokesman for Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine.
The church’s offices and school were vandalized before the sanctuary was set on fire. Damages were estimated at $150,000 to $200,000.
Before the fire, a parcel of the church’s property had been scheduled to be auctioned off within the next few days to satisfy creditors, Allen said. The auction was not held.
Allen said additional arrests were expected. Howard and Jones were being held at the Dougherty County Jail, the sheriff’s office said.
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