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US-Mosque arson attacker sentenced

October 18, 2016 at 11:12 pm

Jedediah Stout, a 32-year-old Missouri man was sentenced to five years in prison, Tuesday, for setting a mosque ablaze and attempting to do the same to a nearby women’s reproductive health clinic.

Stout pleaded guilty to setting the Islamic Society of Joplin mosque on fire as well as two counts of attempted arson related to a nearby Planned Parenthood clinic.

Stout was also ordered to pay more than $700,000 in damages.

In a statement, US Attorney Tammy Dickinson said:

No American should fear being the victim of violence simply for exercising their constitutional rights … When hate and intolerance lead to criminal attacks, we will protect our citizens and defend their civil rights.

Stout told investigators he did not like Islam and admitted to setting the Aug. 6, 2012, fire that destroyed the mosque, according to the Justice Department.

The blaze destroyed “many donations” made during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, according to the department.

Stout attempted to set the Joplin Planned Parenthood clinic ablaze Oct. 3 and 4, 2013, using the same methods that previously destroyed the Joplin mosque, the agency said.