BELTON, S.C. — A Southern Baptist pastor in South Carolina is facing arson charges after allegedly setting fire to his own church building March 8.
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division announced March 9 the arrest of Christopher Daniels, 41, of Belton, S.C., on a charge of second-degree arson. A press release said Daniels “willfully and maliciously” set fire to Blue Ridge Baptist Church, Belton.
On March 9, the Greenville News reported the church’s pastor discovered a fire while unlocking the building for Sunday worship. The next day, the paper quoted Anderson County fire Chief Billy Gibson as saying officials found evidence early on that the fire was intentionally set. After further investigation, they concluded that Daniels was the suspect.
The local newspaper said about half of the congregation’s active membership — about 25 members, mostly elderly women — stopped attending after a series of attacks by vandals who spray-painted what appeared to be gang symbols on walls of the sanctuary.
If convicted, then Daniels could receive up to 25 years in prison. He was held on $25,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court April 24.
Daniels reportedly became a Southern Baptist pastor about a year ago, and this church was his first preaching job.
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