By Associated Press
Birmingham, AL – County prosecutors want three former Birmingham college students to serve time in state prison after they finish their federal prison sentences for burning nine rural churches in central and west Alabama. Matthew Cloyd, Benjamin Nathan Moseley and Russell Lee Debusk are scheduled to appear in federal court in Birmingham Wednesday afternoon to plead guilty to the church fires.
Defense attorneys and federal prosecutors have worked out a plea deal on the arson and conspiracy charges and details will be unveiled in court. The three are also charged with state crimes in Bibb, Pickens, Greene and Sumter counties, including arson, burglary, criminal mischief and cruelty to animals for killing a cow.
Defense attorneys have been discussing a similar plea deal with county prosecutors, but none has been reached. County prosecutors said any agreement will have to include time in a state prison following their federal sentences. All the churches that were burned have either reopened or are rebuilding. The churches, according to court records, were chosen because of their isolated locations not for any religious or other reason.
(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)