Arsonist of Islamic Center of Greater Toledo gets 20 years

4/16/2013

The Blade
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In line with the terms of a plea agreement, the Indiana man who set fire to the Islamic Center of Greater Toledo was sentenced today to 20 years in prison.

Randolph Linn, 52, of St. Joe, Ind., also was ordered by U.S. District Court Judge Jack Zouhary to pay more than $1.4 million in restitution to the mosque and its insurance company.

Linn pleaded guilty in December to one count each of intentionally defacing, damaging, and destroying religious property; using fire to commit a felony, and using and carrying a firearm to commit a crime of violence for the Sept. 30 fire that damaged the mosque in Perrysburg Township.

He admitted setting fire to the rug in the prayer room after walking through the building with a gun to check for people in each room. He said he wanted to “get some payback” for Americans who had been killed by terrorists.

While Linn later attempted to withdraw his guilty plea saying he was under duress at the time, Judge Zouhary ruled last month he had heard or seen nothing to indicate Linn was not of sound mind when he admitted to setting the fire.

He is expected to appeal.