Texas 18-year-old charged after synagogue was set ablaze on Halloween, feds say
A teen has been charged federally with arson after being accused of setting fire to a Texas synagogue on Oct. 31, the Department of Justice said in a Nov. 15 news release.
Franklin Barrett Sechriest, 18, is accused of intentionally setting fire to a place of worship, according to an arrest affidavit dated Nov. 10.
“Arson at a sacred place of worship shakes the very foundations of our society,” U.S. Attorney Ashley C. Hoff said in the release. “This office strongly condemns the intentional act of violence alleged in the complaint and will vigorously prosecute this type of conduct to the fullest extent possible. I commend the Austin Fire Department, the FBI and our other law enforcement partners for their outstanding investigative work.”
The Austin Fire Department partnered with the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force to investigate the incident, the release said.
On Halloween evening, officials responded to a structure fire at the Beth Israel Synagogue that caused $25,000 worth of damages, according to the affidavit. The Austin Fire Department determined the incident fit the parameters of arson.
The Austin Fire Department posted a photo showing the fire damage to the synagogue.
Surveillance videos from the area showed an SUV entering the parking lot, and a ”tall thin white man” exiting the car. The man was then seen carrying a full container. Minutes later, the building caught fire, the affidavit said.
The affidavit said videos from days before the incident captured the license plate of the SUV. Investigators were able to trace the vehicle to a woman living in San Marcos at the same address as Franklin Sechriest, who matched the description of the man seen in video footage.
Sechriest was arrested Nov. 12 and has remained in federal custody since, according to the release.
Senior Rabbi Steve Folberg of Congregation Beth Israel told KXAN the synagogue was relieved to learn of the arrest.
“We are grateful to the authorities including the Austin Fire Department, Austin Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation for their diligent and persistent work investigating this hateful, antisemitic act,” he said in a statement to KXAN.
“It gives us some sense of relief to learn of this arrest, but we are staying vigilant. Across Central Texas and beyond, we are seeing a spike in attacks against Jews. We denounce all acts of bigotry and violence, especially those motivated by blind hatred of any of the proud and distinctive communities that enrich our civic life.”
If found guilty, Sechriest faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
This story was originally published November 11, 2021 at 11:27 AM with the headline "Texas 18-year-old charged after synagogue was set ablaze on Halloween, feds say."
