Arson suspects indicted for ET church blazes

A Smith County grand jury indicted two East Texas men including a former University student on arson charges in connection with 10 church fires earlier this year.

Bourque

Jason Bourque, 19, of Lindale is charged with five counts of arson and three counts of attempted arson. Bourque attended the University in 2008-2009 as a management major. At the time of his arrest he was an art major at Tyler Junior College.
The charges involve:

• Arson - Jan.16 Tyland Baptist Church located at 2818 Silver Creek Drive in Tyler
• Arson - Jan.17 1st Church of Christ Scientist located at 106 East Second Street in Tyler
• Arson - Jan.20 Fellowship of Prairie Creek Church located at 2401 South Main Street in Lindale
• Arson - Feb.8 Clear Spring Missionary Baptist Church located at 14914 CR 426 in Lindale
• Arson - Feb.8 Dover Baptist Church located at 21166 FM 1995 in Tyler
• Attempted arson - Feb. 7 Heritage Baptist Church located at 7720 S. Broadway in Tyler
• Attempted arson - Feb.8 Pinebrook Baptist Church located at 3606 Van Highway in Tyler
• Attempted arson - Feb.8 Clearview Baptist Church located at 13933 State Highway 110 North.

McAllister

Daniel George McAllister, 21, of Ben Wheeler is charged with two counts of arson and two counts of attempted arson. The charges involve:

• Arson - Feb.8 Dover Baptist Church
• Arson - Feb.8 Clear Spring Missionary Baptist Church
• Attempted arson - Feb. 8 Clearview Baptist Church
• Attempted arson - Feb.8 Pinebrook Baptist Church.

Police arrested the two men in February after an extensive investigation. Officials with the Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms and Explosives Dallas Bureau said DNA evidence helped link the two suspects.
The suspects remain in Smith County Jail on bonds of $10 million each.
Each charge is a first-degree felony with a possible punishment range of 5-99 years or life upon conviction.