By Alabama Public Radio
Birmingham, AL – Matthew Lee Cloyd, Benjamin Nathan Moseley and Russell Lee DeBusk face federal conspiracy and arson charges in nine rural church fires. Birmingham Federal Judge David Proctor has set November 13th as the start of their trial. The three men have pleaded not guilty, but their attorneys have suggested the men would be willing to negotiate a plea agreement. State and local prosecutors, meanwhile, have been meeting with members of the burned churches to get their ideas on possible penalties. Cloyd, Moseley and DeBusk are being held in the Shelby County jail. They also face state arson charges.