NM man admits to burning occupied church due to its ‘religious character’
A New Mexico man has pleaded guilty to setting fire to a Yucaipa church and occupied preschool last year.
Albuquerque resident Jonathan A. Barajas Nava, 37, admitted to a single count of damage to religious property, the U.S. Department of Justice said in a news release.
On April 24, 2024, Nava filled a gasoline can and brought it to the Retreat Church and Yucaipa Christian Preschool. He then poured the gas on the church’s front door and set it aflame.
The children and staff inside were able to evacuate, but “the resulting fire damaged the church’s interior carpet, the doorframe seal, and an outdoor mat,” prosecutors said.
Man tried to burn down church preschool, strip mall in Yucaipa: DOJ
He then tried to do the same to an exterior wall of a nearby strip mall, but it resulted in no damage.
“Nava admitted in his plea agreement that he set fire to the church because of its religious character,” the DOJ said.
He is scheduled to be sentenced on March 31, and he faxes a maximum of 20 years in federal prison.
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