Two of the three defendants accused of setting a 2005 fire which destroyed New Life Deliverance Church in Barrow County have pleaded guilty.
Maurice Arnold and Bruce Edward Smith entered their pleas Monday in Barrow County Superior Court. Smith was sentenced to two years in jail which will be suspended pending the successful completion of intensive probation. The remainder of his 15 year sentence will be served on probation. Arnold has not yet been sentenced.
The case of Quincy Arnold, the former pastor of New Life Deliverance Church and father of Maurice Arnold, has not yet been heard.
District attorney Brad Smith said a court date for Quincy Arnold has not been set.
All three men were arrested in early 2009 and charged with a range of offenses including first-degree arson, conspiracy to commit arson, vandalizing a place of worship and insurance fraud.
Authorities believe Quincy Arnold enlisted the aid of his son and Smith in a scheme to burn down the church in order to collect insurance proceeds.
