nashville man 28 faces civil rights charges after setting fire to four churches including three on the same night during the 2019 arson spree
A Nashville man, 28, has been charged with civil rights violations over a string of arson attacks on churches in 2019 after allegedly targeting the buildings because of 'religious character'.
Alan Douglas Fox, 28, is facing up to 80 years in jail for the arsons, as well as a consecutive five-year sentence for carrying a firearm.
Prosecutors say Fox admitted to setting fires at Crievewood United Methodist Church, Crievewood Baptist Church, Saint Ignatius of Antioch Catholic Church, and Priest Lake Community Baptist Church back in June 2019.
He claimed to have intentionally set the fires due to the 'religious character of the churches,' according to the US Department of Justice.
Alan Douglas Fox, 28, has been charged with civil rights violations for his alleged involvement in four 2019 church fires in Nashville. The FBI say he started the fires due to the 'religious character of the churches'
The case was investigated by the FBI, Tennessee's Bureau of Investigations, the Metro Nashville Police Department, and the Nashville Fire Department.
'The Information alleges that Fox intentionally set the fires because of the religious character of the churches,' stated the DOJ.
He allegedly broke in and started a fire in Crievewood United Methodist Church on June 17, 2019.
Fox set four churches on fire over the course of a week. The big blaze left one of the churches with plenty of damages as fire climbed the wall near the backdoors of St. Ignatius
Firefighters raced to stop the first at St. Ignatius of Antioch Catholic Church in Tennessee
St. Ignatius of Antioch Catholic Church was broken by someone throwing a rock a the glass doors just before midnight on June 25. Police suspected the fire started by Fox lighting the contents of a trashcan on fire
A few days later, he allegedly broke into Crievewood Baptist Church by forcing open the back door around 9.30pm on June 25, 2019.
Associate Pastor William Sensing told WZTV at the time that it appeared the arsonist had started a fire in one of the Sunday school rooms on the first floor.
The Metro Nashville police reported at the time that Fox set fire to a cabinet full of paper in one of the classrooms located in the church.
The fires started at Crievewood United Methodist Church on June 17 before Fox hit three churches over the course of one night between June 25 and 26. The Crievewood Baptist fire started in one of their Sunday school rooms
The religious community was left with plenty debris to clean up following the fire at the Baptist church after Fox lit a cabinet full of paper on fire
A few hours later, the Metro Police received another call reporting someone had broken into St. Ignatius by throwing a rock at the glass doors.
When police arrived, there was smoke in the building and they suspected he dragged a trash can in the gymnasium and set fire to its contents.
Another fire was started at Priest Lake Community Baptist Church shortly after 1am on June 26.
The Crievewood United Methodist Church was the first church to be hit by Fox
There was a small fire at Priest Lake Community Baptist Church
The door had been smashed in and Pastor Titus Augustine could see the man walking around the church through his home window.
Cameras caught him stealing two flat-screen TVs and opening a locked door with a 'credit card' before he had started a small fire, according to the WKRN.
Fox's public defender has been approached for comment.