Preacher’s Son Pleads Guilty to Church Arson

Maurice Arnold and Bruce Edward Smith – two thirds of a trio of men who were charged with arson in 2005, in connection with a fire that destroyed a church – pleaded guilty in Barrow County (Georgia) Superior Court. Two of three men charged with arson in a 2005 fire that destroyed a church pleaded guilty in Barrow County Superior Court in Georgia.

According to the prosecutors, the Reverend Quincy Arnold of Lawrenceville, GA, asked Maurice (his then-25-year-old son) to burn down his New Life Deliverance Church five years ago. They also say that Maurice Arnold hired Smith (age 48) to help him with his task.

The senior Arnold is expected to face charges in October, which will included insurance fraud, vandalizing a place of worship, first-degree arson, and conspiracy to commit a crime.

Superior Court Judge Currie Mingledorff has agreed to sentence Smith with two years in prison followed by fifteen years of probation, though the prison sentence is suspended on his arson plea.

The younger Arnold pleaded guilty to three charges: vandalizing a place of worship, conspiracy to commit a crime, and arson, and will be sentenced next month.