BIRMINGHAM, AL (WBRC)- A hearing took place today for one of the three men who set fire to several central Alabama churches in 2006.

Russell Lee Debusk, Jr. pleaded guilty to helping two fellow Birmingham college students burn nine churches in Sumter, Bibb, Pickens and Greene County in February 2006. He finished his federal sentence and is now scheduled to serve two years in an Alabama prison.

Debusk's attorney asked a judge to reduce his state sentence, arguing their client is a changed man since serving his time in prison. His lawyer Brett Bloomston says Debusk has been a model prisoner, from earning college credit to helping other inmates further their education too.

"He wants to rejoin his life and get back to his community and more importantly, to pay the churches back with restitution and service," Bloomston said.

Members of the five burned churches wrote letters to Circuit Judge Marvin Wiggins asking him to release Debusk early.

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