By Alabama Public Radio
Shelby County, AL – US Magistrate John Armstrong ordered three men suspected of setting fire to nine rural Baptist churches to remain in jail. However, he did indicate that he might issue a ruling Thursday morning to release them on 50-thousand dollar bonds. Matthew Lee Cloyd, Benjamin Nathan Moseley, and Russell Lee DeBusk Junior have been held at the Shelby County Jail. They currently face charges of conspiracy and setting fire to a church ... Ashby Baptist in Bibb County. The men have only officially been charged with burning that church so far, but that are suspected in four other fires in Bibb County and four fire in Pickens, Greene and Sumter counties. Authorities have said tire tracks from Cloyd's sport utility vehicle have been matched with tracks at six of the fires. If convicted, each count carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison.