Kansas City, Kan. ? A former pastor at a Leavenworth church has been sentenced to three years probation for lying about an arson at his church.

Federal prosecutors say 39-year-old Marvin Clay was sentenced Monday after he admitted that he lied about an Oct. 21, 2008, fire at Sunflower Missionary Baptist Church. Prosecutors say he told federal agents that he didn’t know who set the fire.

In fact, Clay knew that Carva Lee White had set the fire. Clay admitted Monday that White told him of his plans a week before the fire. The two planned to make money by hiring a contractor to pay them kickbacks during renovations.

White was sentenced last month to 12½ years in prison.