Suspect in church arson changes plea

Published 8:45 pm Friday, December 10, 2010

One of the men charged in the burglary and arson of Providence Baptist Church changed his plea to “not guilty.”

Bryan Christopher Henry, 34, of Clanton was scheduled to be sentenced Thursday by 19th Circuit Judge John Bush after entering a guilty plea on Nov. 1 along with fellow defendants Marcus Allen Brasher, 33, of Chilton County, and Billy Sherrell Ray, 34, of Calera.

But Henry withdrew his plea.

Henry’s attorney, Phillip Price, did not return phone calls seeking comment.

Henry is charged with second-degree arson, Brasher is charged with burglary and Ray is charged with burglary and theft of property.

Henry’s trial is scheduled for May 2. Brasher and Ray come back up for sentencing on June 2, according to Circuit Court Clerk Glenn McGriff.
Providence church, in North Chilton County, was burned on Jan. 12, 2008, and the three suspects were arrested soon after.