密歇根州Flint教堂纵火案两名被告被追加持枪持弹指控 上周过堂受审
Flint—位于美国密歇根州 Genesee 县的 Flint 市，美国司法部11月9日宣布，50岁的 Sonja L. Settles 与63岁的 Billy J. Chambers 已于上周就一份第二份替代起诉书过堂受审，两人此前因 St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church 纵火案被起诉，此次被追加枪支与弹药相关指控。
新起诉书指控 Settles 以重罪前科人员身份持有枪支，指控 Chambers 以重罪前科人员身份持有弹药。检方称，两项新指控所涉行为分别发生在2026年3月10日与2026年6月5日。
据法庭记录指控，2025年8月30日凌晨，Settles 与 Chambers 先通过电话，其后约凌晨2时03分，Chambers 从教堂东侧一片空地步行至教堂查看起火点周边，约2时11分持物砸破教堂窗户，约一分钟后提着藏在黑色垃圾袋里的红色汽油罐返回，把汽油从破窗倒入教堂并塞入布条再次浇油，约2时16分用点火装置引燃汽油。约2时20分，Chambers 致电 Settles，电话记录显示两人的手机当时都连接在教堂附近半英里范围内的基站。
Flint 消防局到场扑灭大火。火灾造成约35万美元损失，教堂在修复期间约两个月无法举行常规礼拜。
密歇根东区联邦检察官 Jerome F. Gorgon Jr. 与烟酒枪炮及爆炸物管理局（ATF）底特律外勤处特别探员主管 James Deir 共同宣布这一进展。案件由 ATF 特工调查、Flint 警察局协助，联邦助理检察官 Anthony Vance 负责起诉。司法部表示，起诉书仅为指控、并非有罪证据，被告有权获得公正审判，检方须在审判中证明指控。
（来源：美国司法部）
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)
来源：美国司法部
发布：GSM·美国（发布链接）
图片来源：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).
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