Man who burned church sentenced to more than three years imprisonment
A man who set a church building on fire in 2010 because "he felt God had dealt him a poor hand in life" was sentenced to more than three years in prison.
On March 29, U.S. Distict Judge in Oakland Haywood S. Gilliam Jr. sentenced Hugo Scherzberg, a 48-year-old former California resident, to 41 months imprisonment plus three years of supervised release for setting ablaze the building of the Church of the Living God in Pittsburg six years ago. Scherzberg was also ordered to make a restitution of $491,940.99.
"Scherzberg admitted that his actions caused significant damage to the entire church building and property within the building, and that almost the entire church building required reconstruction," the Department of Justice said in a statement.
Scherzberg was indicted in March last year for setting the church building into flames, reportedly by breaking a window using a rock, pouring gasoline, and igniting the building with a lighter. In January, he pleaded guilty to burning the church building because of its religious character. The felony of damaging religious property by the use of fire has a maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment and a fine of $250,000, plus restititution and supervised released may be ordered.
According to Christian News Network, Scherzberg had a troubled life: he was diagnosed with a kidney ailment, he could not find work, and he was kicked out of his apartment, apart from other troubles while growing up. Apparently, he blamed God for his fate.
Apart from being accessible, the church also had a sign that said "Living God," which made Scherzberg target it. After setting the church on fire, he was reportedly going to surrender just so he could have somewhere to stay.
"In ordering the sentence, Judge Gilliam noted, among other things, that the defendant's actions likely created fear and terror in the community, and that this sentence reflects the seriousness of the crime," said the press release.
In November 2014, Scherzberg was detained for setting the Pilgrim Community Church in San Francisco on fire, and was sentenced to a jail term of 18 months.
