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A Texas man who saved journals crammed with virulent antisemitic statements was sentenced to jail on Wednesday for committing a hate crime and setting hearth to an Austin synagogue in 2021.
Franklin Sechriest, 19, of San Marcos, Texas, pleaded responsible in federal court docket in April to arson and a hate crime in reference to the Oct. 31, 2021, hearth at Congregation Beth Israel, in accordance with the U.S. Division of Justice.
On Wednesday, Sechriest was sentenced to 10 years in jail and three years of supervised launch. He was additionally ordered to pay $470,000 in restitution.
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Franklin Sechriest reserving picture (Austin Police Division)
“This defendant is being held accountable for this wicked, antisemitic assault on Congregation Beth Israel, a neighborhood with a wealthy historical past and heritage that dates again to 1876,” stated Assistant Legal professional Common Kristen Clarke of the Justice Division’s Civil Rights Division. “This hate-filled act of violence in opposition to a home of worship was an try and sow concern within the Jewish neighborhood and was supposed to intimidate its congregants. Assaults focusing on Jewish individuals and arsons aimed toward desecrating synagogues don’t have any place in our society at this time, and the Justice Division will proceed to aggressively prosecute antisemitic violence.”
Based on court docket paperwork and admissions made through the plea and sentencing hearings, Sechriest stated he went to the synagogue three days earlier than the fireplace to “scout out a goal.”
On the night time of the arson, Sechriest drove to the synagogue and was noticed on surveillance footage carrying a five-gallon container and bathroom paper as he walked towards the synagogue’s sanctuary.
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Congregation Beth Israel in Austin, Texas. (Google Maps)
Moments later, the glow of a fireplace was seen on surveillance footage, and Sechriest was seen operating away from the flames and towards the open driver’s aspect door of a automobile.
A citizen reported the fireplace and the Austin Hearth Division shortly responded, and extinguished the flames.
In a journal entry dated that very same day, Sechriest wrote, “I set a synagogue on hearth.”
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Sechriest was sentenced Wednesday in federal court docket. (iStock)
The pages following that entry confirmed that Sechriest was actively monitoring media stories to trace the progress of the investigation into the arson.
Sechriest admitted he focused the synagogue due to his hatred of Jews, writing in his journal “I set a synagogue on hearth” and that he was actively monitoring media stories to trace the progress of the investigation into the fireplace, prosecutors stated.
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“Nobody ought to need to concern that their each day lives shall be inflicted by hate-fueled violence, or that their place of worship and neighborhood might develop into a goal of hate,” U.S. Legal professional Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas stated. “We stand firmly dedicated to these impacted by this arson, and my workplace will proceed to fight felony acts of hate whereas in search of justice for the victims.”
Greg Wehner is a breaking information reporter for Fox Information Digital.
