White man sentenced to 25 years for setting fire to Black churches

A YOUNG white man was sentenced to 25 years in prison on Monday, November 2, for setting fire to three Black churches last year.

Louisiana man, Holden Matthews, pleaded guilty to burning down the churches over a 10-day span in 2019 and was sentenced to 25 years, although he was 18 months credit for the time already spent in jail by Federal District Judge Robert Summerhays.

Matthews, who will serve 282 months, torched three historically Black churches; the St. Mary Baptist Church, Greater Union Baptist Church and Mount Pleasant Baptist Church, all in St. Landry Parish, between March 26 and April 4, 2019.

He was charged with three counts of simple arson on religious buildings and three hate crimes charges and ordered to pay about $2.7 million (€2.3 million) in restitution to the churches he burned.


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Written by

Matthew Roscoe

Originally from the UK, Matthew is based on the Costa Blanca and is a web reporter for The Euro Weekly News covering international and Spanish national news. Got a news story you want to share? Then get in touch at editorial@euroweeklynews.com.

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