A man has been charged with a federal hate crime and arson for allegedly burning down the “Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints” in Cape Girardeau County, Missouri last year.
Christopher Scott Pritchard, 46, was charged for intentionally obstructing the parishioners of the church in the enjoyment of their free exercise of religious beliefs and using fire to commit a federal felony, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced in a statement on Thursday, citing court documents.
If convicted, Pritchard faces up to 20 years in prison—with a mandatory minimum of 10 years consecutive to any other sentence—for using fire to commit a federal felony.
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