An Alabama pastor, his wife and a former teacher have been charged with trying to burn down a church for insurance money.
Ricky Van Mitchell and his wife, Angela Mitchell, have been indicted on charges of first-degree insurance fraud, second-degree arson and criminal conspiracy, local affiliate ABC 3340 reported. Former teacher Helen Rich Whitten has also been indicted on charges of second-degree arson and criminal conspiracy. Whitten has a previous conviction for having sex with a student at her former school.
The charges stem from a January fire at a building owned by the Mitchells. The building was occupied by the Longview Institute and Emmanuel Fellowship Church, where Ricky Mitchell worked as a pastor, according to ABC 3340.
The Mitchells and Whitten have been released on bond, ABC 3340 reported.
