A Vacaville pastor jailed for allegedly firebombing his ex-girlfriend’s home had his request for reduced bail rejected by a Solano County Superior Court Judge on February 18. The pastor is suspected of fraudulently posting bail subsequent to his arrest for the firebombing.
Mark Lewis, 39, pastor of Fellowship Baptist Church in Vacaville, is currently lodged in the Solano County Jail; his bail is now set at $575,000. Lewis was arrested after the firebombing of his ex-girlfriend’s Vacaville home. Six people—three adults and three children asleep in the residence – were not injured.
Lewis’ ex-girlfriend, whom authorities declined to identify, was in the process of obtaining a restraining order against him when her house was firebombed. This request has since been granted by a judge.
The Fellowship Baptist church in Vacaville – Mark Lewis is still listed as the Pastor on their website. Many church members have expressed their support of him.
Lewis’s lawyer argued that the firebombing suspect did not represent a danger to the community or the ex-girlfriend.
Lewis had quickly posted $500,000 bond soon after his arrest. But on January 24, the Vacaville Police Department stated that its investigators determined Lewis had fraudulently used the church property as collateral by himself as a “trustor” on the church’s Deed of Trust. However, police said the document was “newly drafted following his arrest.”
At the bail hearing February 18, Judge Peter B. Foor, stated that he had determined Lewis remained a significant threat to the community and refused to lower bail. A preliminary hearing in the case has yet to be scheduled.
Read More:
San Jose Mercury News: Vacaville pastor charged in fire bombing pleads not guilty
San Jose Mercury News: Vacaville pastor accused of plotting to firebomb ex-girlfriend’s home arraigned: Church members show support
