Gleason, who was pleaded guilty for his role in the church arson in June, takes the stand against Jacques, his accused co-conspirator.
Thomas A.GleasonWith the case entering its third week, Gleason’s appearance will offer the first insider account of defendant Michael Jacques’ actions at the church construction site early on Nov. 5, 2008, hours after Barack Obama’s election as the nation’s first black president.
Along with Benjamin F. Haskell, Gleason pleaded guilty in June to torching the future home of a predominately black parish now worshiping in a century-old chapel on King Street.
As the last defendant, Jacques is facing 10 years in prison if convicted on civil rights and other related charges.
Gleason’s appearance will end a week-long stint on the witness stand by state trooper Michael A. Mazza, the arson investigator who extracted a disputed confession from Jacques near the end of a 6½-hour session on January 15, 2009.
Longer than a mini-series and recorded on a four-DVD box set, the interrogation dominated the trial last week. Jurors watched the videotape while Mazza fielded questions from the prosecutor, assistant U.S. attorney Kevin O’Regan, and defense lawyer, Lori H. Levinson.
Michael JacquesTestifying in a high-stakes federal trial can be a stress-inducing exercise for any witness. But over the course of 17 hours on the witness stand, Mazza has been unflappable – appearing calm, even serene, while the defense challenged his tactics, motives and expertise during the arson investigation.
During cross-examination, Levinson repeatedly pointed out that Mazza and FBI agent Ian Smythe interrupted her client, refusing to listen to his denials.
“Don’t embarrass yourself,” Mazza tells the suspect at one point, explaining that investigators have gathered an overwhelming amount of information – including Jacques’ own secretly recorded admissions – linking him to the crime.
After six hours of denials, Jacques admitted to participating in the church arson along with Gleason, Haskell and a fourth suspect described only as Scott. The confession was later challenged by Levinson, who claimed her client was coerced and suffering from opiate and nicotine withdrawal by the end of the session.
The crime drew international media coverage, thrusting Springfield into the spotlight in the days after Obama’s victory.
As the star prosecution witness, Gleason is expected to take the stand early in Monday’s session. Haskell, who was sentenced to nine years in prison after opting out of a cooperation agreement, is not expected to testify for either side.
View full sizeFile photo showing the fire that destroyed the Macedonia Church site in November, 2008During pretrial hearings, investigators played a five-hour videotaped statement Gleason gave to the FBI and Massachusetts State Police on Jan. 14, 2009, during which he confessed after a string of denials. On the videotape, Gleason also said he voted for Obama.
Unlike Haskell, who was taken to prison immediately after his plea, Gleason was
allowed three weeks to surrender to U.S. marshals and will be jailed while he awaits sentencing on Oct. 1.
Prosecutors can ask the court to reduce his potential 14-year sentence if they are satisfied with his cooperation.