Arson Charges Filed Against Two Men for Church Fire

On Thursday, the Department of Justice reported that two men from Columbia, Louisiana, have been charged with arson for allegedly setting a Catholic church ablaze just before Holy Week.

Authorities found that Anthony Dillon Jr., 19, and James Dale Smith IV, 21, broke into St. John’s Chapel on March 27 and initiated the fire. It seems they were stealing electricity from the church. According to officials, the duo entered the church after having an encounter with church staff and another individual who sold them a malfunctioning television.

The investigation indicates that the men vandalized the church, breaking windows with baseball bats, and also made off with at least three televisions and a sound system before igniting the fire.

If convicted, Dillon Jr. and Smith could face a minimum sentence of five years and a maximum of up to 20 years in federal prison, along with a potential fine of $250,000.

St. John’s Chapel was reportedly the sole Catholic church in Caldwell Parish. The Diocese of Alexandria has initiated a fundraising effort to assist in rebuilding the church. Meanwhile, services will be conducted at an alternate location “until further notice,” as stated in their announcement.

U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Louisiana, Zachary A. Keller, expressed the importance of worshiping freely, noting, “These two men allegedly destroyed the only church in Caldwell Parish where Catholic residents could gather and worship just before the holiest week in the church calendar.” He affirmed the office’s commitment to securing justice for the local community.

The Diocese of Alexandria was contacted for comments but had not responded by the time of publication.