By Michele Reese
(KYTX) Tyler - The two East Texas men who set several churches on fire last year get multiple life sentences. The investigation involves 13 church arsons and attempted arsons, 8 of those were in Smith County.
Jason Bourque pleaded guilty to 8 charges and Daniel McAllister pleaded guilty to four charges back in December for the fires they set in Smith County. Bourque has more charges because investigators believe on four occasions he acted alone. On Monday, both men learned their fate.
CBS 19's Michele Reese has followed this story for the last year and was in the courtroom as the sentences were read.
They terrorized a community for a month a half setting a string of fires at several East Texas churches starting News Year's Day. Monday morning, members of those churches said justice was served.
"It gives us closure," Pastor Brandon Owens, of Clear Springs Missionary Baptist Church, said." But even though justice has been served, our prayers and concerns still go out to these young men."
Jason Bourque, 20, was handed the maximum sentence for each of his 5 arson, life in prison, and twenty years for two attempted arson charges. Bourque will serve a consecutive sentence of 20 years for his role in a third attempted arson.
He set fire to Tyland Baptist, First Church Christ Scientist, Prairie Creek, Clear Springs Missionary Baptist, and Dover Baptist churches. He also tried to torch Heritage, Pinebrook, and Clearview Baptist churches.
After Bourque's sentencing, Daniel McAlllister,22, was handed a life sentence for his 2 arson charges and 20 years for his two attempted arsons charges. He helped Bourque set the Dover and Clear Springs Missionary Baptist churches on fire on February 8th, and on that same day attempted to burn Pinebrook and Clearview Baptist churches.
"I've been praying for you," Dwight Lawson, of Clearview Baptist Church, said during the sentencing hearing.
Lawson and David Barton of Pinebrook Baptist Church sent a message of forgiveness to the arsonists.
"Come back to understand the love and mercy of God," Lawson told them.
"I ask you to get on your knees and ask for forgiveness from God where he will forgive you and he'll use you in a mighty way," Barton said.
Outside the courtroom Bourque's family reacted to the sentence.
"I sign languaged I loved him in court because they would no let me touch him. My heart's just breaking," Bourque's mother said.
Bourque's mother and grandmother said Bourque is a strong Christian. They blamed his actions on Prozac and anti-smoking drug he was taking.
"This was not Jason that did this. Not the Jason we know," Bourque's grandmother, Brenda Steel, said.
They believe Bourque's sentence is too harsh.
"This is not mercy, this is not compassion. This is total vindictiveness," Steel said."We are really disappointed that Christian people would allow a sentence like this."
"With these sentences today they are held accountable for their actions," Smith County District Attorney, Matt Bingham, said. "They have waived their right to their appeal. Their cases are final."
Bingham and agents with the Alcohol Tobacco Firearms marked today as the end to a long, intense investigation.
"We had 75 agents work on this case, including two National Response teams, which has never been done before. We also brought a Special Response Team to execute one of the arrests which in my time with ATF in 24 years has never happened," ATF Agent, Robert Champion, said.
But the investigation never uncovered motive.
"Any motive would be speculation on my part," Bingham said.
Bingham added McAllister cooperated with authorities during the investigation, but Bourque never did.
Bourque will be eligible for parole in twenty years. McAllister will be eligible in 15 years.
McAllister's family said even though the cases are final in Smith County they didn't want to comment until the cases in Henderson county and Van Zandt county are over. But they did tell say they don't feel like the punishment was too harsh. The Henderson County District Attorney plans to indict Bourque and McAllister Tuesday, and as soon as the cases are over in Henderson County the Van Zandt County District Attorney will take up their cases.
The case against the two men was very strong. Shoe prints found at some of the fire scenes linked each of them to the crimes. DNA evidence was also recovered from rocks used to break church windows.
