Rev. Joseph Howard charged with arson fire of Trinity Metropolitan Baptist Church, Albany

[Ian David]

Black Collar Crime

Arson suspect arrested
* Two local men were paid to set fire to Trinity Metropolitan Baptist Church, investigators say.
J.D. Sumner

ALBANY — A third suspect involved in the arson of an Albany church was denied bond Wednesday, jail officials said.

Vincent Darrell Jackson, 45, of Albany, was charged with first-degree arson and a probation violation stemming from the New Year’s Eve fire at Trinity Metropolitan Baptist Church. The Rev. Joseph Howard and Curtis Lee Jones have also been charged in the case.

According to Fire Chief James Carswell, Jackson, like Jones, was paid by Howard to torch the church for insurance money.

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Days later, investigators discovered evidence that the church was going through significant financial problems and began looking toward insurance money as a possible motive.

More:
http://www.albanyherald.com/archives/News/2008/front022108a.html