Man Pleads Not Guilty to Setting Fire in Church

A 20-year-old northern Vermont man has denied setting a fire in a Catholic church in Orleans County that caused more than $3,000 in damage.

The Caledonian Record reports Justin Roy pleaded not guilty Tuesday to charges of burglary, unlawful mischief causing more than $1,000 in damages and unlawful trespassing.

State police say Roy admitted to breaking into St. Theresa's Catholic Church in Barton on Monday while he was drunk. Roy allegedly set the fire to see what he was doing inside.

Orleans firefighters responded to the East Street church around 8:30 p.m., but a neighbor had already extinguished the blaze.

The neighbor reported the damage to state police, which included blood all over various statues. A bloody Roy was apprehended on state Route 58 with a beer in hand.