The man convicted in burning down the Murray Church in Merritt more than two years ago was the person found in Lower Nicola last week when it was on evacuation order.

Police had previously said a man had been found in Lower Nicola on August 20, while it was still evacuated by the Lytton Creek fire, adding that person was breaching conditions of arson charges.

Today, Merritt RCMP say August David Caprian was the person involved in that incident, noting he was intoxicated and riding a bike through the town when he was found.

Caprian had been arrested and released, before an arrest warrant went out. Six days later, on August 26, police went to Caprian’s home to arrest him and found him in somebody else’s home where they arrested. Caprian appeared in Merritt court on Friday before being released, with a promise to follow probation orders.

Caprian pleaded guilty last month, on July 23, to three counts of arson and one count of break-and-enter with intent to commit an indictable offense. Those charges came from Jan. 11, 2019, when the Murray Church in Merritt was burned to the ground and the Crossroads Community Church and Shulus Catholic Church were targeted.

As part of his conviction, Caprian is under house arrest for two years and cannot use drugs or alcohol.