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Ky. firefighters confess to setting church fire

Two Corinth firefighters were some of the first firefighters on the scene of the Shiloh Full Gospel Church fire

By Christopher Leach
Lexington Herald-Leader

GRANT COUNTY, Ky. — Two Northern Kentucky firefighters have been charged with arson for starting a fire at a church, according to court documents.

Robert Hughes, 23, and Brendan Gibson, 24, are charged with second-degree arson. During the course of an investigation, they confessed to starting the fire at the Shiloh Full Gospel Church in Grant County, according to the documents.

The pair are being held on $10,000 each, according to court records.


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The incident happened early Monday morning. Court documents say multiple agencies responded to a report of a structure fire and shortly after arrival, personnel from Kentucky State Police and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were requested.

An investigation later determined Hughes and Gibson were responsible for starting the fire, according to court documents. Hughes and Gibson were also some of the first arriving Corinth Fire Department firefighters at the scene.

Hughes and Gibson were interviewed by detectives and confessed to starting the fire, court documents said.


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Hughes and Gibson were arraigned in Grant District Court on Tuesday, according to court records. A preliminary hearing for both men is scheduled for July 16.

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