Man Arrested for Setting Fire to Vivian Church

An Oil City man has been arrested on a charge of aggravated arson for setting fire to the Vivian United Pentecostal Church back in April.  

The State Fire Marshal's office says 25-year-old William Sexton had been a suspect early on and had, originally, been very cooperative with investigators about where he was and what he was doing on the morning of the fire.  However, when confronted by investigators today with inconsistencies in his previous statements, the State Fire Marshal's Office says Sexton made a full confession, citing his anger toward the church's pastor as his motivation for setting the fire.  Investigators say he also admitted to knowing that a traveling evangelist, his wife, and their 18-month-old child were sleeping in a wing of the church when he set the fire.

The State Fire Marshal's Office says the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Vivian Police Department both provided valuable assistance throughout the investigation.

According to Caddo Sheriff's Office booking records, Sexton was already in custody at the time of his arson arrest.  He was arrested May 21st on charges of theft and illegal possession of stolen things.  The booking report shows that he had a Plain Dealing address at the time of that arrest.