Texas mosque arsonist sentenced to 24 years in prison

VICTORIA MOSQUE

A new mosque replaces the one that was burned down in a hate crime in Victoria, Texas.

THE ARSONIST who burned down a mosque in Victoria, Texas was sentenced to more than 24 years in prison.

Marq Perez, 26, was convicted of hate crime and felony arson in July for setting fire to the Victoria Islamic Center in Texas on January 28, 2017.

"I do believe justice has been served," explained OMAR Rachid, Victoria Mosque Board Membe. "We certainly appreciate the judge giving complete consideration of the impact this crime had taken on us. And, also taken into consideration the sentencing guidelines and taken into consideration, most importantly, the constitution and the protection afforded to all Americans."
A jury found Perez guilty on July 16, for a hate crime in the burning of the Victoria Islamic Center (the mosque) on Jan. 28, 2017, and for the use of fire to commit a federal felony. In addition, the jury found that Perez possessed an unregistered destructive device for a separate but related incident that occurred on Jan. 15, 2017.

The town of Victoria, Texas was shaken last year when Perez set fire to the Victoria Islamic Centre, burning it to the ground while "jumping up and down like a little kid," according to one witness who spoke at his trial. Testimony revealed Mr Perez had conducted "recon" on the mosque in the days ahead of the fire and had a well-documented history of Islamophobic behavior on social media.

The witness testified that Perez said that he burned down the mosque, because he wanted to “send a message.”
“The Attorney General has said that the Freedom of religion is indeed our ‘first freedom’—being the first listed right of our First Amendment,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan Patrick. 

“The Department of Justice prosecutes violent and dangerous crime, but also, and particularly when that crime interferes with someone’s ability to practice their religious faith. Not only was this a dangerous and potentially deadly act, but also one spurred from hate. I am glad justice was served in this case.”

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Jury Convicts Texas man of hate crime in the burning of Texas mosque

SCREEN CAPTURE / CBS

A new mosque is being built in Victoria, Texas.

IT TOOK less than three hours Monday (July 16) for the jury to come back with a verdict saying a man committed a hate crime when he burned down a mosque in Victoria, Texas last year.

The jury found Marq Vincent Perez, 26, of Victoria, guilty for a hate crime in the burning of the Victoria Islamic Center on Jan. 28, 2017, and for use of a fire to commit a felony. In addition, they found he possessed an unregistered destructive device for an incident that occurred on Jan. 15, 2017.

“This is a statement from our country, from the USA, showing everyone is equal under the law. This verdict shows that this country upholds the law, whether you are a minority or majority,” Abe Ajrami, treasurer for the Victoria mosque, said Monday at the entrance to the federal courthouse moments after the verdict was announced.

“Justice has been served,” said Omar Rachid, a longtime mosque member who testified during the trial. “We are a land of laws.

“All people are entitled to live free from violence and fear, regardless of their religion or place of worship,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General John Gore of the Civil Rights Division. “Perez’s actions were criminal, unlawful, and dangerous. This Justice Department is committed to holding hate crimes perpetrators accountable under the law.”

The jury heard from a total of 19 government witnesses, including law enforcement officers, experts, and others who testified about communications with Perez, one of whom detailed how Perez called Muslims “towelheads.” An FBI agent took the stand and described hate-filled messages found on Perez’s Facebook account.  

Testimony in court detailed how Perez planned the event and revealed how he had done “recon” of the mosque in the days leading up to the fire. A witness who was with Perez on the night of the fire described how excited Perez was upon seeing the mosque in flames, explaining that he was “jumping up and down like a little kid.”

Additional evidence presented in court revealed that items taken during two burglaries at the mosque were found at his home, and also an improvised bomb similar to what was used in an attempted car-bombing approximately two weeks prior to the fire.

The jury also heard from an arson expert who concluded the fire was the result of an “intentional application of an open flame.”

Perez faces up to 20 years in federal prison for the hate crime and up to 10 years for possessing an unregistered destructive device. For use of a fire to commit a felony, the penalty is a consecutive and mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison. All of the counts also carry a potential $250,000 fine. Sentencing has been set for October 2.

“Hate crimes are not only an attack on a specific victim, they threaten the cornerstone of diversity that America was built upon,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Perrye K. Turner. “Perpetrators of hate crimes, like Perez, aim to chip away at our nation’s foundations by instilling fear into entire communities with violence.”

While Ajrami said the jury's decision left him with optimism, he also admitted to suffering emotional trauma to the Victoria Advocate.

“Especially when the kids are around, I personally pray with my ears open, hoping not to hear the click of a weapon,” he said. “I often listen ... to ceremonies with my back against the wall, watching the front door. Anytime you smell something burning, it brings back the memories.”

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Texas man charged with hate crime for burning mosque

SCREEN CAPTURE

The Islamic Center in Victoria, Texas was completely destroyed by the alleged arsonist.

A FEDERAL GRAND JURY in Victoria, Texas, has returned a three-count superseding indictment against Marq Vincent Perez, 25, for allegedly burning down the Victoria Islamic Center on Jan. 28, 2017.

I'm not sure why they had to have a grand jury to figure out torching a mosque was a hate crime, but maybe Texans just want to make doubly sure.

Acting U.S. Attorney Abe Martinez made the announcement along with a bevy of local and federal law enforcement agencies Thursday, June 22.

"Intentionally defacing, damaging or destroy a house of worship, such as the mosque here, is a federal crime," said Martinez. "Such crimes will not be tolerated."

Perez was previously indicted for possession of an unregistered destructive device for an incident that occurred on Jan. 15, 2017. The superseding indictment returned today, June 23, now charges him with a hate crime – damage to a religious property as well as use of a fire to commit a federal felony in relation to the arson at the mosque.

Perez was initially arrested and charged March 3, 2017, in connection with an attempt to blow up a car with a destructive device. At a detention hearing held the following week, court heard evidence linking Perez to a Jan. 22, 2017, burglary of the Victoria Islamic Center as well as a Jan. 28, 2017, burglary and arson of the same mosque. Perez is in custody pending further criminal proceedings. 

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If convicted, Perez faces up to 20 years in federal prison for the hate crime. He also faces up to 10 years for possessing an unregistered destructive device. If convicted of use of a fire to commit a felony, the penalty is a consecutive and mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison. All of the counts also carry a potential $250,000 penalty.

An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.

ATF and FBI conducted the investigation along with the City of Victoria Fire Marshal’s Office, Victoria Fire Department, Victoria Police Department, Texas Department of Public Safety - Criminal Investigations Division and Texas Rangers with assistance of Texas State Fire Marshal’s Office and sheriff’s offices in Victoria and Nueces Counties. 

Martinez said his district, the southern District of Texas, which includes the city of Houston and Brownsville, has the second largest Islamic population in the U.S., second only to Lansing, Michigan.

The alleged hate crime occurred a week after Donald Trump was installed as President and was cited by media as an example of the growing Islamaphobia in the country. Trump critics claim the rise in anti-Muslim acts are due to the anti-Muslim rhetoric employed by Trump and his campaign.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sharad S. Khandelwal and Kate Suh are prosecuting the case along with Trial Attorney Saeed Mody of the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division.

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