Monday, a man from Cape Girardeau Missouri was charged with a Federal hate crime after he allegedly set a fire that destroyed a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints church in the city. The suspect, Christopher Pritchard, 45, was also slapped with charges of second-degree arson, burglary, and felony stealing, according to Girardeau County Prosecuting Attorney Mark Welker.
The fire engulfed the church in April 2021. Nobody was present at the time of the arson and no injuries were reported. The church was completely demolished. While he initially denied setting the fire Pritchard eventually pleaded guilty to violating the Church Arson Prevention Act and arson of a building affecting foreign or interstate commerce.
Before the attack, The Cape Girardeau County Sheriff’s Office had received a plea for extra security because church officials were having problems with Pritchard, who allegedly had threatened to assault a church bishop and “burn the church down.” In an initial interview, the suspect allegedly admitted making threats toward the bishop and church but denied setting the fire.
The police stated that “During the interview, Mr. Pritchard admitted to the previous threats of assaulting the Bishop of the church and also threatening to burn the church down… Pritchard again said he was visiting a friend … but denied going inside the church or setting the blaze.” The police issued this document to explain why they arrested and charged the suspect.
The probable cause statement details how investigators arrested Pritchard and brought him to jail. The arrest was based on the odor of smoke on his person, witness statements linking him to being near the church around the time of the fire, his proximity to the house of worship at the time of the fire, and his admission to previously making threats to assault the bishop and burn the church down.
According to a release from the Department of Justice, the LDS church had to relocate and rent a new space from the city to hold services, which the DOJ said “obstructed the church’s congregants in the free exercise of their religious beliefs.” Sentencing is Feb. 18. Pritchard could see up to 20 years for violating the Church Arson Prevention Act. Pritchard faces a mandatory five-year sentence for arson of a building affecting foreign or interstate commerce.
When he was initially arrested police found more than $1,000 in items in Pritchard’s backpack that belonged to the church. Among the items were a laptop, hand tools, and 21 apples, officials said. He was held at the Cape Girardeau County Jail on a no-bond and the trial was held in October. At the time of the arrest, the attorney representing the accused arsonist had not released a statement.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division said “Attacks on houses of worship in our country undermine the fundamental right to practice one’s religion free from fear or violence. The Justice Department will continue to vigorously enforce federal laws that protect all houses of worship from violent, hate-fueled attacks.” Sentencing will be held in February 2025.