South Carolina Pastor Charged with Insurance Fraud

The South Carolina pastor accused of burning his church is now facing insurance fraud charges.

Anderson County deputies say 40-year-old Christopher Patrick Daniels of Belton was charged Thursday with three counts of filing false insurance claims on behalf of Blue Ridge Baptist Church, where he was pastor.

Deputies say Daniels filed false police reports about vandalism at the church, then filed insurance claims for more than $20,000 in damage.

Daniels was arrested March 9 and accused of second-degree arson in a fire at the church the day before.

He has also been charged with breach of trust after the reported theft of about $5,000 from the church.

Daniels is being held in the Anderson County jail. It was unclear if he had an attorney.