A Hoschton man spent the night in jail for allegedly setting fire to an Alabama church under construction.

Donny Ray Horton, 46, was charged with arson and criminal mischief for the blaze at the Gardendale First Baptist Church, located about 15 miles from Birmingham, Ala. A new sanctuary is being built near I-65.

In a note to the congregation on the church's Web site, Pastor Kevin Hamm states, " . . . the suspect may be an employee of the company that is selling the worship seats to be installed in the new worship center."

The building had moderate damage, but is not a total loss. The fire remains under investigation, according to the Gardendale Fire Department.

Horton was booked into the Jefferson County Jail around 6 p.m. Friday, according to jail records. He was released around 1:30 p.m. Saturday on $22,500 bond.

About the Author

Featured

Thousands of "No Kings" protesters marched down Courtland Street from the Atlanta Civic Center to Liberty Plaza on Saturday. (Abbey Cutrer/AJC)

Credit: Abbey Cutrer