Man Who Torched Historic Stuart Church Released from Prison

The Stuart, Iowa church shown in an Aug. 2002 photo, was built in 1908 and know for it's Byzantine-style architecture and was gutted by an arson fire in 1995. A new All Saints Church was built on the east edge of town, and a group called Project Restore bought the old church from the Diocese of Des Moines in 1999. With grant money and private donations and donated labor, the group has restored the chapel in what is now called the Historic All Saints Church. (AP Photo/Des Moines Register, Andrea Melendez)

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By Becky Ogann

Story Created: Jun 2, 2008 at 11:03 AM CST

Story Updated: Jun 2, 2008 at 11:03 AM CST

DES MOINES (AP) - A man who torched a rare Byzantine-style church in Stuart in August 1995 has been released from prison.

Charles Willard, of Des Moines, was found guilty and sentenced to 25 years each on two arson charges. He was released from the Newton prison on Sunday after serving about a dozen years behind bars.

Richard Doherty is heading an effort to restore the All Saints Catholic Church. He says there has been a big buzz around town about Willard's release.

Doherty says the community will be on the lookout for Willard and carefully watch the building to make certain he doesn't return.

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