A Tennessee man was sentenced Wednesday for the arson of four Nashville area churches, federal authorities stated
Alan Douglas Fox, 29, of Nashville, was sentenced to seven years in federal prison. He set the fires because of the “religious character” of the churches, according to officials.
According to court documents and statements made during the plea and sentencing hearings, Fox intentionally set fire to the following churches:
Crievewood United Methodist Church on June 17, 2019
Crievewood Baptist Church on June 25, 2019
Saint Ignatius of Antioch Catholic Church on June 25, 2019
Priest Lake Community Baptist Church on June 26, 2019
Fox also carried and used a handgun to break into the Crievewood Baptist Church to facilitate the arson. The fires resulted in significant damage to all four churches.
“This defendant has now been held accountable for his dangerous arson spree that caused damage to a Catholic church, a Methodist church and two Baptist churches, all pillars of the Nashville community,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke for the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.
Adding, “Attacks on houses of worship are attacks on people of faith that undermine the fundamental right to practice’s one’s religion free from fear or violence. The Civil Rights Division will continue to vigorously enforce federal laws that protect all houses of worship, regardless of denomination.”