Two Defendants in Flint, Michigan Church Arson Arraigned on Added Firearm and Ammunition Charges
FLINT, Mich. — In Flint, a city in Genesee County, Michigan, the U.S. Department of Justice announced on November 9 that Sonja L. Settles, 50, and Billy J. Chambers, 63, both of Flint, were arraigned last week on a second superseding indictment that added firearm and ammunition charges to their previous charges related to the arson of St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church.
The new indictment charged Settles with being a felon in possession of a firearm and Chambers with being a felon in possession of ammunition. The new charges are alleged to have occurred on March 10, 2026, in Settles' case, and June 5, 2026, in Chambers' case.
According to court records, in the early morning hours of August 30, 2025, Settles and Chambers spoke by phone. A short time later, around 2:03 a.m., Chambers walked to the church from a nearby field east of the building and looked around the area where the fire would later be started. Around 2:11 a.m. he returned carrying an object, used it to break a church window, then came back about a minute later with a piece of cloth and a red gasoline can hidden inside a black garbage bag. He poured gasoline through the broken window, placed the cloth in the opening and poured more gasoline inside. At about 2:16 a.m. he ignited the gasoline with a fire-starting device. About four minutes later he called Settles, and phone records show both phones connected to towers within half a mile of the church.
The Flint Fire Department put out the fire. The blaze caused about $350,000 in damage, and the church was unable to hold regular worship services for about two months while repairs were made.
U.S. Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr. for the Eastern District of Michigan announced the arraignment with James Deir, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Detroit Field Division. The case was investigated by ATF special agents with assistance from the Flint Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony Vance. The Department of Justice noted that an indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt.
(Source: U.S. Department of Justice)
Source: U.S. Department of Justice
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：美国司法部总部大楼（GSM联邦固定图库）。 / Photo: U.S. Department of Justice headquarters (GSM federal asset library).
