In a statement made by the US Department of Justice, “A Missouri man was convicted today of arson at the Cape Girardeau Islamic Center. 44-year-old Nicholas John Proffitt was sentenced to 191 months in prison.” information has been given.
In the statement, it was announced that Proffitt, who was stated to be released on condition that he would stay under surveillance for 3 years after his prison sentence, was decided to pay a compensation of 551,000 dollars for the damage he caused to the mosque.
Attacked Islamic institutions for the third time
Kristen Clarke, Deputy Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division of the Justice Department, said: “Attacks on mosques in our country are attacks against believers that undermine a person’s fundamental right to practice one’s religion, free from fear and violence. The Department of Justice continues to vigorously enforce federal laws that protect all places of worship, regardless of creed. will.” she used the phrase.
According to court documents and statements given at the hearings, Proffitt set the Cape Girardeau Islamic Center on fire “on purpose due to the religious nature of the building” at the beginning of Ramadan on April 24, 2020, and the fire caused significant damage to the building.
Proffitt, who is stated to have attacked Islamic institutions for the third time, admitted responsibility for “destroying religious property and using fire to commit a federal crime” on December 12, 2022.
Nicholas Proffitt, who was tried separately for committing a hate crime, was sentenced to 3 years in prison for attacking the same place of worship in 2009.