BORDERLAND

Islamic Center arsonist is denied his appeal

1/11/2014

A federal appeals court has dismissed the appeal of an Indiana man who set fire to the Islamic Center of Greater Toledo in 2012.

Randolph Linn, 53, of St. Joe, Ind., pleaded guilty in December, 2012, 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 stemming from the Sept. 30, 2012, fire in Perrysburg Township. U.S. District Court Judge Jack Zouhary sentenced him to 20 years in prison and ordered him to pay more than $1.4 million in restitution.

The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals granted a motion by federal prosecutors to dismiss Linn’s appeal of his conviction, saying he had given up his right to appeal when he entered into the plea agreement.