DA says man burned church to hide own activities
JACKSON, Miss. — The Latest on a man being sentenced in the 2016 burning of a Mississippi church that was spray painted with "Vote Trump" (all times local):
4:20 p.m.
A prosecutor says a Mississippi man admitted setting an African American church on fire but never took responsibility for the words "Vote Trump" that were spray painted on the outside of the building the night of the blaze.
Washington County District Attorney Dewayne Richardson tells The Associated Press that 47-year-old Andrew McClinton gave investigators varying accounts of setting the fire at Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church in Greenville. The fire and vandalism happened a week before the 2016 presidential election.
McClinton was a member of the church. Richardson says McClinton was involved in "illicit" activities at the church and set the fire to prevent fellow congregants from meeting about the activities. Richardson would not elaborate.
McClinton pleaded guilty to arson in March and was sentenced Thursday to 10 years in prison.
Read more: http://www.startribune.com/the-latest-da-says-man-burned-church-to-hide-own-activities/509396271/