Man pleads guilty to hate crime after torching Colorado Christian church

A Colorado man has pleaded guilty to a federal hate crime in connection to a fire set in a Loveland, Colorado church in January.

22-year-old Darion Ray Sexton admitted to intentionally setting fire to the church on January 19, the Justice Department said in a press release. According to Fox 31, the arson occurred at Abiding Love Lutheran Church. 

Sexton admitted that he set fire to the church by throwing two Molotov cocktails inside, one through the front door and another into he basement. He further admitted that "he was motivated to set this fire due to the religious character of the church and that he intended to destroy the church," the press release stated.

Sexton faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the arson. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for July 21.

A previous press release from the Justice Department stated that firefighters extinguished the fire at the front door, and found evidence of another fire in the basement, which appeared to have been extinguished by the emergency sprinkler system.

Authorities recovered a broken glass bottle from the front door near the fire, with the area smelling like gasoline. Another broken bottle, as well as a partially melted plastic bottle, were found in the basement.

The church’s doorbell camera revealed the masked individual, later identified as Sexton, throwing Molotov cocktail-like destructive device at the front door.

Footprints found in the snow led to a to the neighborhood where Sexton lived. In his home, law enforcement found na plastic bottle similar to the one found in the basement, and a review of footage from a Loveland liquor store two days before the arson showed Sexton purchasing liquor bottles similar to the broken glass found at the church.

“Protecting religious freedom and observance is a top priority for the Department of Justice,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “We will continue to vigorously prosecute those who attack houses of worship and target religious communities.” 

“We all have a right to feel safe and secure in our houses of worship – no matter our religion or belief,” said U.S. Attorney Cole Finegan for the District of Colorado. “An act of violence in one of our sacred places is especially serious, and we will work with our law enforcement partners to vigorously prosecute all such offenses.” 

“The FBI treats hate crimes as the highest priority of our civil rights program because everyone deserves to feel safe to exercise their religion without fear of violence from others,” said Special Agent in Charge Mark Michalek of the FBI Denver Field Office. “FBI Denver is committed to protecting those rights, and we will continue to aggressively work with our law enforcement partners to bring justice to all communities that have been targeted.”