Mass. church fire defendants freed on bail

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. -- Three Massachusetts men accused of burning a predominantly black church hours after the election of President Barack Obama have been released on bail under house arrest.

Prosecutors had opposed the $100,000 bail for 22-year-old Benjamin Haskell, 24-year-old Michael Jacques and 21-year-old Thomas Gleason of Springfield. They were arrested Jan. 16 on charges of conspiracy to violate the rights of the congregation of the Macedonia Church of God in Christ, whose almost-finished new building was heavily damaged.

Federal Judge Michael Ponsor ordered the men not to contact anyone involved with the alleged crime and not to use computers or firearms. He said the defendants posed no imminent threat to flee or commit other crimes while on bail.

In documents unsealed after their arrest, an FBI agent said two of the men expressed racial motives for setting the fire.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)