LINDEN, Texas - A man accused of breaking into an African American church in Queen City last summer pleaded not guilty Monday to attempted arson at a hearing in Cass County.
Christopher Wayne Sherwood, 33, appeared for arraignment before 5th District Judge Bill Miller on a charge of attempted arson of a place of worship.
Sherwood was found by a parishioner who entered the fellowship hall Sunday, Aug. 30, according to a probable-cause affidavit. The woman reported that she had to "push hard" to get the door open and realized after she entered that it had been barricaded inside by a chair. The woman noticed chairs blocking the hall's other two doors as well.
The woman noticed a strong chemical smell and as she rounded a counter and walked toward a refrigerator, Sherwood allegedly jumped to his feet and said, "I didn't know you were working today," before making an exit.
The pastor of New Beginnings Church of God in Christ was called to the church and police were notified.
Queen City police officers who responded to the scene noticed the strong odor of gasoline and discovered a number of potentially explosive devices including Molotov cocktails, three "primitive style torches," "an item that appears to be an improvised explosive device made of two aerosol cans and socks, a gallon of gasoline, a box of matches and a grill lighter."
Officers noted that the cane Sherwood allegedly used to make the torches did not grow in the area or come from the church and concluded Sherwood brought the material with him.
A can of gasoline found in the church did not belong there and Sherwood is suspected of bringing it.
"The grill lighter, lighter fluid, matches and Sterno all belonged to the church and had previously been put away in their respective places," the affidavit states.
Queen City police noted that pieces of the flooring in the fellowship hall had been pulled up, exposing wood beneath.
"It is believed Christopher Wayne Sherwood intended to burn down the building using the devices that he constructed," the affidavit states.
Sherwood allegedly told one of the Queen City officers that he broke into the building through a window the night before to get out of the rain. Sherwood allegedly claimed that he intended to use the torches and other devices for "camping since he is homeless."
Sherwood is being held in the Cass County jail.