Judge frees church arsonist

Judge Marvin Wiggins frees Bibb church arsonist

By Daniel L. Bamberg

Daniel@Centrevillepress.com

Bibb County Circuit Judge, Marvin Wiggins ordered convicted church arsonist, Russell Lee DeBusk Jr, free on Monday, July 16. 

DeBusk was arrested in 2006 for a series of church burnings in Bibb County.  He and his two cohorts; Matthew Cloyd and Benjamin Moseley made a plea agreement with the court in order to avoid a jury’s ruling.

DeBusk was sentenced to 6 years in federal prison and 2 years in state prison.  After being released in April from federal prison DeBusk and his attorney, Brett Bloomston asked for the state sentence to run concurrent with the federal sentence, which would eradicate his physical time in state prison.

Bloomston asked the court and the churches for forgiveness and mercy during a May 14 hearing.  He passionately suggested that DeBusk was a changed man who was anxious to help the community he had affected so disastrously. 

Several members of the community, the churches affected, and District Attorney Michael Jackson are outraged that Judge Wiggins accepted a new agreement which reduced what they suggest was already a “sweetheart deal.”  Jackson particularly considered Wiggins’ decision as a bad example of justice.

“I along with the rest of the community are outraged by the court’s decision,” said Jackson.  “This sends a poor message about the meaning of justice.  Surely someone who burns churches should serve their full sentence.”

Bibb County Sheriff Keith Hannah who gave one of the most emotional testimonies during the May 14 hearing was also displeased with the court’s decision.  Hannah described the time period after the arsons and before the suspects were arrested as a community in the grips of panic. 

“I think I can speak for all law enforcement agencies who were involved during that investigation in stating that the court’s decision is very disappointing,” said Hannah.  “At the same time this was Judge Wiggins’ decision to make.  We as a community have to learn to live with it.”

Many members of the churches burned (Antioch Baptist Church, Ashby Baptist Church, Old Union Baptist Church, Pleasant Sabine Baptist Church, and Rehobeth Baptist Church) believed that while forgiveness and mercy were a strong part of Christian faith, so was justice. Church members of Rehobeth and Pleasant Sabine testified at the May 14 hearing suggesting that the arsonists were entitled to forgiveness but that they must serve the agreement that was previously made with the court. 

Jackson’s arguments in May were that he did not believe a man asking for a reduced sentence from a plea bargain, which already reduced what the D.A. could have placed on the culprits, was a sign of change. 

“I don’t and never will buy that this was a mistake,” said Jackson in May.  “They drove from Jefferson, through Shelby into Bibb and didn’t just burn one church but moved on to the next, and the next and the next.  If he was sorry for what he did he should have turned himself in.  These acts destroyed churches and communities.  Most criminals are not afforded the opportunity he (Debusk) has been given.  Most prisoners have to deal with the violence and the group mentality of prison.  Minimum-security federal prison is not as harsh as state prison.  I believe he is simply trying to avoid serving state time.  I don’t buy he is anxious to help the community.” 

In a letter issued as evidence before the court during the May hearing DeBusk states that he will forever be associated with the acts that he committed but would not allow the actions to define him.  The convicted arsonist suggested he couldn’t change his actions but could rise above them if freed.

Some members of Ashby Baptist Church, which was also burned during the arson spree, believe that DeBusk cannot serve any good in prison.  They believe that his freedom is a sign of the church’s and community’s forgiveness and will better aid his rehabilitation.

The order from Wiggins declares the two-year state sentence retroactively concurrent with the federal sentence.  DeBusk will be placed on 5 years probation.  The probation was ordered unsupervised by the State of Alabama but monitored by the U.S. probation Office for the Northern District of Alabama. 

DeBusk is ordered to complete 200 hours of community service.  Those hours are ordered to include work with church-building mission groups and speaking to youth about how his life was affected by his decisions.  He is also ordered to complete his undergraduate degree and maintain employment.  DeBusk along with the other two arsonists must also pay the full restitution for their crimes.

(Photo bottom right) Rehobeth Baptist Church (shown burning above) was one of five Bibb County churches burned by a trio of Birmingham college students during a 2006 arson spree.  One of the convicted arsonists, Russell Lee DeBusk was recently granted his request to have his physical state time reduced.  DeBusk and his cohorts made a plea deal in 2006 to avoid jury trial.  District Attorney Michael Jackson expressed outrage over the court’s decision to not allow DeBusk to serve the full extent of the plea bargain he made.  Rehobeth along with the other churches have been rebuilt.

(Photo top left) Russell Lee DeBusk Jr. one of three convicted arsonists of Bibb County churches in 2006 has been released from State Prison due an order of Judge Marvin Wiggins.  He will serve 5 years probation, must pay full restitution and work 200 hours of community service, which includes church-building mission work.