In USA, vandal gets 10 months in prison for satanic inscriptions in church

Court. Illustrative photo: freepik.com

In the USA, a federal court has sentenced 21-year-old Indiana resident Steven James Perkinson, who desecrated a church with satanic images. As reported by the Christian Post, the court sentenced him to 10 months in federal prison, as well as three years of supervised release.

The decision was made by the Chief Judge of the district court. Perkinson had previously pleaded guilty to intentional damage to religious property and making a false statement to an agency of the United States. Tom Wheeler, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, said the “sentence makes clear that hate‑fueled vandalism and threats of violence will be met with swift and serious federal consequences.”

On Nov. 18, 2024, Perkinson vandalized the sign in front of Maple Grove Baptist Church of Plainfield, spray-painting a pitchfork and the numbers “666." He also painted over the sign’s cross with an “X.” Initially, Perkinson denied any knowledge of the incident. However, he later admitted to the vandalism, saying that he was inspired by his involvement in Satanic organizations.

Investigators also found search queries about local churches and occult groups on his phone, as well as messages in which he discussed violence and claimed to have access to weapons. According to the Prosecutor's Office, such activity posed a real threat to religious freedoms and the safety of believers.

As the UOJ reported, a Christian teacher in the USA won a lawsuit against a school for religious discrimination.

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