Former University student apprehended

Investigators arrested two men including a former University student accused of burning a Smith country church and believe they may be responsible for the series of church fires and burglaries across East Texas.

Jason Robert Bourque, a 20-year-old former business management major and Daniel George McAllister, 21, of Ben Wheeler remain in the Smith County Jail each on a $10 million bond.

“To God be the glory,” Lt. Tony Dana, of the Smith County Sheriff Department said. “We could not have done it with out Him.”

Dana and other investigators addressed the arson case at a press conference held at the Smith County Peace Officers Association building in Tyler.

Bourque

McAllister

Both are charged with one count arson involving a church in connection with the Dover Baptist Church fire on Feb. 8.

Dover Baptist Church is located off of State Highway 110 near Mt. Sylvan west of Tyler. It is one of 10 church arsons officials are investigating.

The church fires started on Jan. 1 and are located throughout East Texas beginning in Canton and spreading to Wills Point, Athens, Tyler and Lindale.

The series of church incidents also included attempted burglaries of three Tyler churches.

The arsons terrorized church members and put fear in the community officials said. However, it created a network of people working together to protect area churches and to help investigators solve the crime officials said.

We set up night watches and took turns monitoring the church. We had a new security system installed last Thursday, Daryl Starkes of Lake Athens Baptist Church, said.

He, along with other church members, said he attended the press conference to show their appreciation of law enforcement efforts.

We considered this an answered prayer. Everyone has been drawn closer together because of this, Jim McPherson, LABC member, said.

Investigators arrested Bourque at a residence in northern Smith County and McAllister at a residence in San Antonio late Saturday night, officials said.

Bourque graduated from Van High School in 2008. He belonged to the FFA, debate team and the Bible club according to his MySpace page.

Beverley Golden, director of news and information at the University said Bourque was last enrolled in Spring 2009.

Bourque’s page has a collection of blogs discussing school, family and personal problems dating back to March 2008. Patriot Talon viewed entries of Bourque’s blog page.

On Aug. 27, 2008 Bourque wrote, So college is actually pretty great. I have made a whole lot of friends and we all play beach volleyball and stuff together. I start to get lonely sometimes but now I’m starting to build up enough friends that I can usually find someone who is out.

On Oct. 9, 2008 Bourque wrote, My mom took off about a week ago. I really believed she would change this time. I really believed that she meant it when she was praying with me at the alter  when my little sister starts to cry and say all she wants is her mommy it just hurts so much. Please pray for my mom everyone.

Oct. 16, 2008 entry he says, I went to a church conference and the preacher called Satan a dog and by the end of the week everyone would chant, kill the dog at the end of his speeches. Pain comes and goes like the weather, but I unlike an animal do not have to run from it. I can rather stand my ground and build a fort for myself.

Officials did not release any information about the two suspects and they declined to give any details about evidence that lead to their arrests. Officials said they had evidence to believe Bourque and McAllister were involved in the other fires.

Arson is a first-degree felony punishable by 5-99 years or life in prison and up to a $10,000 fine upon conviction.

Robert Champion, ATF special agent in charge, participates in a press conference Feb. 21 at the Smith County Peace Officers building. The Texas Rangers, Smith County officers, DPS and Smith County District Attorney Matt Bingham were also present. Photo by Clay Ihlo.

Officials thanked local citizens and fellow officers for all their hard work.

Steven McCraw, Director of the Texas Department of Public Safety, spoke about all the hard work law enforcement officials put towards this despicable and cowardly act.

Church parties every night guarded their church reporting what they saw to law enforcement, McCraw said.

Jean Dart of the DPS thanked the media for keeping the story out front in the headlines and said the tips officials received were fruitful.

Lt. Dana spoke of the many hours officers spent away from their family and homes.

I can not say enough. Teamwork paid off.

He also thanked the public for their prayers, letters of encouragement and helping to keep officers going.

Staff writer Libby Moore contributed to this report.