Burned Church Nears Completion as Suspect Found Guilty

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (RNS) As a white man surrendered to federal marshals Friday (April 15), workers were rebuilding the pulpit of the Macedonia Church of God in Christ he was convicted of burning down the night of President Obama’s election. Michael Jacques, 26,...

White Man Found Guilty in Arson at Black Church

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (RNS) Breaking a two-day deadlock, a federal jury convicted a white man, Michael F. Jacques, on all three charges Thursday (April 14) for a fire that destroyed a black church the night of President Obama’s election. The guilty verdicts rocked...

Trial Opens in Mass. Black Church Arson Case

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (RNS) After two accomplices pleaded guilty, the sole man to stand trial for torching a black church the night of President Obama’s election was confronted with secretly taped recordings during opening arguments on Monday (March 21). “Gas,...