Even though the pastor of a church in Dayton, Ohio expressed concern that the burning of the church was an arson hate-crime, officials in Dayton are denying that was the case, citing a 36-year-old suspect’s stated motive for the crime.
According to the Dayton Daily News in Ohio, Hocking County Sheriff Lanny North said suspect Donald L. Williams told investigators that an arson he is suspected of comitting was a “revenge crime,” and had nothing to do with the fact that the church welcomed LGBT congregants. The sheriff said Williams was acting out of revenge for some assault-related incident he claims happened at the church last year.
North said Williams admitted throwing a rock through a church window and setting fire to a curtain. He was charged with arson Tuesday.
