A Missouri man pleaded guilty to hate crime and arson for a fire that destroyed the Cape Girardeau Islamic Center. The incident occurred on April 24, 2020–a day into Ramadan—when Nicholas John Proffitt (42) broke the window of the Islamic center and entered with two containers of gasoline.
Missouri Man Pleads Guilty to the 2020 Razing of An Islamic Center During Ramadan
He went on to pour the gasoline through the foyer and hallway before setting it ablaze. The crime was captured on security cameras and there were several people inside the building. Everyone escaped without injury but the building was destroyed and couldn’t be used further.
Proffitt confessed that he set the fire for religious reasons. It was revealed that this was the second time he’d attacked the mosque. In 2009, he defaced the Cape Girardeau Islamic Center and served three years behind bars.
He is scheduled to reappear for sentencing on May 22, 2023 and could face up to 20 years for damage to religious property. There will also be a mandatory minimum of 10 years sentence—to be served consecutively—for using fire to commit a federal felony. Finally, there could be maximum fine of $250,000 for each charge.
CHECK IT OUT: Get The Overtimer’s Hottest Stories, Breaking News and Special Features in your email, CLICK HERE!
