Rhode Island church arsonist to serve six years in prison

A federal judge recently sentenced Kevin Colantonio to serve just under seven years in prison for charges related to starting fires at a Rhode Island church in 2024. The 36-year-old used gasoline to spark five fires around the outside of Shiloh Gospel Temple Ministries’ building in North Providence early last year, according to a Friday statement from the Department of Justice. He pleaded guilty in February to malicious damage by means of fire, obstruction of free exercise of religious beliefs, and two counts of assault on a federal officer. The fires caused about $90,000 in damages to the Pentecostal church, according to local reporting.

U.S. District Court Chief Judge John J. McConnell Jr. sentenced Colantonio to six and a half years in prison with three years of supervised release on Thursday. The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division will continue aggressively prosecuting antiChristian bias in the United States so Americans can worship without fear, according to Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon.

How has the church responded? Shiloh Gospel Temple Ministries Pastor Eric Perry attended the Thursday sentencing and described Colantonio as looking remorseless. He should have received a longer sentence, Perry told a local news outlet. He shared concern for the congregation’s safety once Colantonio is released, saying that the church has increased its security. The pastor emphasized that he didn’t hate the young man and hoped he received help. But Perry added that Colantonio will need serious supervision once he’s released back into society.

Dig deeper: Read my report on the DOJ suing an Idaho town for alleged religious discrimination.