Shortly before 4:00 a.m. one morning, three arsonists kicked inthe door of a Georgia church, leaving a trail of gasoline down theaisle from the pulpit to the back of the church. They then igniteda blaze that gutted the sanctuary. At least that's whatinvestigators believe happened to New Life Deliverance Church onDec. 7, 2005.

Of the three men who have since been charged in connection withthe blaze, two pleaded guilty on June 14, 2010 in Barrow County,Ga. Superior Court. The third, a seemingly unlikely suspect,continues to insist that he has no ties to the fire. This man isthe church's former pastor, 50-year-old Rev. Quincy Arnold, 50, ofLawrenceville, Ga.

Despite Quincy Arnold's vehement denial of any wrongdoing,prosecutors nevertheless allege that he asked his son, MauriceArnold, 25, to burn down the church in anticipation of a heftyinsurance payout. Authorities believe that Maurice Arnoldsubsequently enlisted the help of Bruce Smith, 48, of Monroe,Ga.

Investigators from the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco,Firearms and Explosives led the initial inquiry, but federalprosecutors opted not to pursue the case. Last year, the case wasturned over to the county sheriff's office, which uncovered newdetails that led to the arrests, said Barrow County AssistantDistrict Attorney James Knox.

Maurice Arnold and Bruce Smith share somewhat checkered pasts.Smith had a string of arrests before he was nabbed in August 2009in association with the arson. Maurice Arnold has two felony drugconvictions on his record. However, aside from past transgressions,the two are at least acknowledging their own guilt pertaining tothis case.

Smith has reportedly cooperated with investigators, agreeing totestify at Quincy Arnold's trial. But Maurice Arnold remains loyalto the father who may be hanging him out to dry. In addition toarson, Maurice pleaded guilty to vandalizing a place of worship andconspiracy to commit a crime. Although he admitted to plotting withSmith, Maurice refused to implicate his father. In return for theunexpected guilty plea, prosecutors offered no special sentencingnegotiations to him, one local newspaper reported. Moreover, thisplea does not affect the case against his father, Knoxexplained.

While Maurice sits in the county detention center awaitingsentencing, which is slated for July 21, 2010, Smith's fate hasapparently been sealed. Having pleaded guilty to one count offirst-degree arson, Smith received the sentence of two years inprison and 15 years of probation. Barrow County Superior CourtJudge Currie Mingledorff agreed to suspend the prison time if hecomplies with highly supervised probation. Additionally, Smith willalso have to pay a $1,000 fine and $258,000 in restitution.

Quincy Arnold, too, will have to eventually face his fate. Hewill stand trial this October for charges of first-degree arson,insurance fraud, vandalizing a place of worship, and conspiracy tocommit a crime, said Barrow County District Attorney BradSmith.

Sadly, suspicious church blazes are not entirely uncommon. Seealso: Baptist Arsonist Faces Penance.