Overview
- U.S. District Court Chief Judge James R. Sweeney II imposed the sentence and three years of supervised release after a guilty plea to intentional damage to religious property and making a false statement.
- Prosecutors said Steven James Perkinson defaced Maple Grove Baptist Church’s sign on Nov. 18, 2024, spray-painting a pitchfork, “666,” and an X over the cross.
- Perkinson initially denied involvement to FBI agents, then admitted he targeted the sign because it was a Christian church and cited involvement in Satanic groups.
- A forensic review of his phone showed searches of local churches and occult terms, a query for the address of the largest Jewish church in America, messages claiming firearm access and encouraging mass violence, photos with dead animals, and evidence of a dumpster fire.
- The FBI said it first flagged Perkinson in 2023 over an Instagram post referencing school shootings and pledged continued aggressive investigations of hate-based crimes against houses of worship.