A Missouri man has entered a guilty plea on federal civil rights charges and arson for setting a Church of Latter-Day Saints on fire in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Christopher Scott Pritchard, 48, admitted in federal court to intentionally causing the blaze that led to the structure's total loss and impeded the congregants' ability to freely practice their religion. The community had to find alternative arrangements, renting space from the city to continue their religious services after the destruction of their church on April 28, 2021.
"This defendant is being held accountable for viciously setting fire to and burning down the Church of Latter-Day Saints," Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division stated. According to the Justice Department, prior to this tragic event, the church was a beacon of support for the needy and hungry within the community. Clarke emphasized that attacks like these threaten the intrinsic right to practice one's religion without fear or violence, and underlined the department's commitment to enforcing laws that protect all houses of worship from hate-driven acts.
U.S. Attorney Sayler A. Fleming for the Eastern District of Missouri lamented the church's devastation and recognized the plea as a move towards justice. The FBI, echoing this sentiment, views religious freedom as a constitutional right that must not be overshadowed by hate. "Today’s guilty plea serves as a reminder that justice will prevail when acts of hate threaten our communities," FBI Criminal Investigative Division Assistant Director Chad Yarbrough said. Furthermore, Acting Special Agent in Charge Greg Heeb of the FBI St. Louis Field Office expressed relief that no physical injuries occurred during the arson, as detailed by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) lent its expertise in investigating the arson, with Special Agent in Charge Bernard G. Hansen reinforcing the sentiment that an act of this nature reaches beyond the congregation and into the heart of the entire community. Hansen pointed out the central role religious centers often play in neighborhoods, offering peace and compassion. He recognized the interagency collaboration that led to today's guilty plea as a testament to the efforts invested in pursuing justice for such reprehensible acts.
Pritchard's sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 18, 2025, where he could face up to 20 years in prison for the charges under the Church Arson Prevention Act, along with a mandatory minimum of five years for arson affecting interstate commerce. He also could be fined up to $250,000 for each count. A federal district court judge will determine the sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The case against Pritchard was a collaborative investigation effort by the FBI St. Louis Field Office, ATF, Cape Girardeau County Sheriff’s Office, and Missouri State Fire Marshal’s Office; it was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Hahn for the Eastern District of Missouri, with assistance from Trial Attorney Daniel Grunert of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section.
