Burned church nearly rebuilt; three convicted
As a white man surrendered to federal marshals in mid-April, workers
were rebuilding the pulpit of the Macedonia Church of God in Christ, a
church he was convicted of burning down the night of President Obama's
election.
Michael Jacques, 26, surrendered a day after a jury
convicted him on civil rights and arson charges. Jacques expressed
sympathy for parishioners of the Macedonia Church of God in Christ,
Springfield, Massachusetts. Their $2.5 million church was burned to the
ground several hours after Obama was elected the nation's first black
president.
"I'm sorry that that did happen," Jacques told
reporters outside the courthouse. "I obviously didn't do it. My heart
does go out to those people. But I am innocent, and I will appeal, and
justice will prevail."
