A antheral who admitted successful national tribunal to mounting the occurrence that destroyed an eastbound Missouri religion has been sentenced to much than 9 years successful situation and ordered to wage the religion astir $7 million
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- A antheral who admitted successful national court to mounting the occurrence that destroyed an eastbound Missouri religion has been sentenced to much than 9 years successful situation and ordered to wage the religion astir $7 million.
The condemnation for Christopher Scott Pritchard, 49, was imposed Tuesday by U.S. District Judge Matthew T. Schelp implicit the April 2021 fire astatine the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter time Saints gathering successful Cape Girardeau, Missouri, astir 115 miles (185 kilometers) southeast of St. Louis. Pritchard pleaded blameworthy successful December to 1 felony number of arson and different felony number of arson to a gathering utilized successful interstate commerce.
The national nationalist defender representing Pritchard declined remark Wednesday.
The interstate commerce complaint came with a mandatory minimum situation condemnation of 5 years, and the justice ordered Pritchard to service 9 years and 3 months. Prosecutors dropped 2 different felony charges involving harm to spiritual property.
Authorities person said that 2 days earlier the fire, Pritchard threatened to battle a bishop and “burn the religion down.” Officers recovered much than $1,000 successful items belonging to the religion successful Pritchard’s backpack, including a laptop, tools and 21 apples, and helium smelled similar smoke, constabulary said.