Former pastor's bond set at $750,000

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- A ruling Tuesday set bond for Donald Lafferty at $750,000 cash only, with a list of special conditions he must meet. Lafferty, 69, is accused of having paid a Stoddard County, Missouri, couple to burn his home while his wife slept on the couch in January 2013. Lafferty, who was a pastor at the time, has been charged with attempted murder, armed criminal action and first-degree arson, and financial exploitation of the elderly in a separate case involving his mother. He was arrested May 12 in Massachusetts. Judge Joe Satterfield issued his bond ruling Tuesday, four days after hearing arguments from the prosecution. The ruling notes Satterfield believes Lafferty to be a danger to the crime victims, witnesses and the community. Lafferty was given 12 special bond conditions, which include filing his exact address with the court, not possessing any firearms or controlled substances, waiving his right to extradition and surrendering his passport. The case is set for a preliminary hearing June 19. The co-defendants in the case, Christopher and Brandy Hicks, are set to appear before Satterfield on Thursday.