Colorado man pleads guilty to hate crime for torching Lutheran church

A Colorado man pleaded guilty to a hate crime charge Thursday in connection with setting fire to a church in Loveland, Colorado.

"The FBI treats hate crimes as the highest priority of our civil rights program because everyone deserves to feel safe to exercise their religion without fear of violence from others," Special Agent in Charge Mark Michalek of the FBI Denver Field Office said in a statement.

Darion Ray Sexton, 22, admitted to throwing two Molotov cocktails at Abiding Love Lutheran Church the night of January 19. He further admitted that he intended to destroy the church and that his motivation involved the "religious character of the church."

"We all have a right to feel safe and secure in our houses of worship – no matter our religion or belief," said U.S. Attorney Cole Finegan for the District of Colorado.

The incident took place a little after midnight, KUSA-TV reported. After arriving on the scene, Loveland Fire crews found a broken window at the front entrance of the church with a small fire burning inside, which they put out. Searching further, they found evidence of a second fire in the basement of the church that had been extinguished by a sprinkler system.

Police and fire officials said the entryway fire did "very little damage" and the basement fire caused "slight damage."

Investigators followed footprints in the snow that led to Sexton's home, the outlet also reported. A surveillance camera showed what appeared to be a masked Sexton throwing the Molotov cocktail at the front door.

In a separate video from a liquor store, a man who looks similar to Sexton was seen buying Admiral Nelson's Premium Watermelon Rum. Broken glass bottles of the same type were also found at the church.

The FBI, ATF, and Loveland Police and Fire Departments investigated the case, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Colorado.

"Protecting religious freedom and observance is a top priority for the Department of Justice," Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division said in a statement.

TheBlaze reached out for comment from Pastor Klug, but did not hear back in time for publication.

Sexton faces a maximum of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for July 21.

Watch KUSA-TV's coverage of January 19 incident below.

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