2nd Mass. Man To Change Plea In Black Church Arson

A second man is expected to change his not-guilty plea in the arson fire that destroyed a predominantly black church hours after Barack Obama was elected president.

An electronic notice filed in court Monday says Thomas Gleason Jr. has a change of plea hearing scheduled Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Springfield. Gleason had been scheduled to go to trial on civil rights and other charges later this week.

Gleason is one of three white men charged with burning down the Macedonia Church of God in Christ on Nov. 5, 2008, the day after Obama was elected American's first black president. Last week, Benjamin Haskell pleaded guilty in a plea deal that calls for him to spend nine years in prison.

Gleason's lawyer did not immediately return a telephone call seeking comment.