Alabama political candidate arrested on daycare arson charges: ‘This is a difficult moment’

A candidate for the Alabama House of Representatives was arrested Wednesday on two counts of second-degree arson.

Terrence Kareem Johnson, 51, from Tuskegee, was arrested in connection with two fires that occurred at By His Grace Daycare & Learning Center, at 311 South 6th Street at 3:23 a.m. on Jan. 13, and at the Children Palace Learning Center on Jan. 19, according to a news release from Opelika Police Department.

Johnson is a prior lessee of the building that houses Children Palace Learning Center, which he owned until August 2025, according to court documents.

He is the current owner of By His Grace Daycare.

Read more: AL.com