More charges have been filed against the man investigators accuse of setting fire to a church in White County Christmas night.
33-year-old Clint Vance of Kennesaw was already in jail when he was identified as the suspect in the Solid Rock Baptist Church arson. Authorities charged him on Jan. 4 with first degree arson and vandalizing a place of worship. They’ve now also charged him with second degree criminal damage to property and possession of tools for the commission of a crime.
The State Fire Marshal’s Office received an anonymous tip that led investigators to Vance. He was already in jail in Cherokee County on unrelated charges. That’s where he remains, according to the State Fire Marshal’s Office.
Vance was charged with the Solid Rock Baptist Church arson within 24 hours of a reward being offered in the case.
“This is a perfect example of what can be accomplished when law enforcement, the media, and members of the public come together in search of a dangerous criminal,” says State Fire Safety and Insurance Commissioner John King.
Surveillance cameras captured images of a man, later identified as Vance, at the church on Highway 115 Christmas night. The video shows him walking behind the church where he pours what appears to be gasoline on the building then sets it on fire.
The 7,000 square-foot, 26-year-old structure suffered minor exterior damage. The fire burned out on its own. Church members discovered the damage the next morning.
If convicted on the arson charge, Vance could be fined up to $50,000 and sentenced to up to twenty years in prison.
WRWH News contributed to this report
