By Daniel L. Bamberg
In 2007 Russell DeBusk pled guilty to burning 5 Bibb County churches. Now, he is asking for a shorter sentence.
The terms of his plea agreement state, DeBusk was to serve seven years in federal prison, to be followed by two years in state prison. He is now asking Bibb County Circuit Judge Marvin Wiggins to make the two-year state sentence run concurrent with his federal sentence. This would in effect, shorten his combined sentence by two years.
Since his incarceration, his attorney Brett Bloomston suggests that DeBusk has made a complete turnaround. According to Bloomston, the arsonist has a 4.0 GPA in college correspondence courses and is now a supervisor in the prison industries program.
“He’s done everything you would expect from a kid who recognized he made a huge mistake,” explained Bloomston.
District Attorney Michael Jackson does not believe that shortening the sentence would be justifiable to the communities, which suffered due to the arson spree created by DeBusk and his two cohorts.
“The burning of churches destroys a community,” Jackson expressed.
While these acts of arson were occurring DeBusk was a 20-year old theater student at Birmingham-Southern College. On February 3, 2006 DeBusk went on a venture of cruising and drinking with BSC student, Benjamin Mosely, and University of Alabama at Birmingham student, Matthew Cloyd.
According to DeBusk’s testimony, the three decided to break into a rural church and set fire to the plastic flowers inside, causing a greater fire than anticipated.
When Mosely and Cloyd made this a common, almost serial-like practice, DeBusk did not join in, according to his testimony. DeBusk only participated in the single event.
When DeBusk gets out of prison he still stands to pay $1.9 million in restitution.
His friends, whom are both serving 8 years of federal time which will also be followed with 2 years of state time, are ordered to pay $3.1 million in restitution following their release. Cloyd and Moseley however, have not filed requests for reduced sentence.
The judge heard brief arguments from both sides on Tuesday, March 15 but did not indicate when he will rule.
DeBusk is currently serving his federal time in a minimum-security prison in Three Rivers, Texas.
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