Suspected Church Arsonist Scheduled to Face a Judge

An ex-con accused of setting a fire that caused more than $200,000 in damages to a church near Mount Helix is scheduled to be arraigned today at the courthouse in El Cajon.

Eugene William Volk, 45, was arrested Thursday as he walked near the fire-damaged Santa Sophia Church on San Juan Street in Spring Valley, sheriff's arson Detective Anthony Portillo said. He was being held without bail pending arraignment.

Shortly before 8 p.m. on Oct. 8, flames began spreading through the Catholic house of worship just north of Campo Road and state Route 94. It took firefighters about 10 minutes to douse the non-injury blaze, which caused extensive damage to the church interior.

Authorities declined to disclose what led them to conclude that the fire was intentionally set or identify Volk as the suspected arsonist.

The motive for the alleged crime was unknown, according to Portillo.

-- City News Service