Stephen Spencer Pittman will remain in federal custody after his initial appearance today. The FBI charged Pittman with arson in the burning of Beth Israel Congregation Saturday morning .
U.S. Magistrate Andrew Harris presided over the hearing this afternoon. Pittman remains in the hospital but appeared with Federal Public Defender Mike Scott on Zoom. The defendant's arms were heavily bandaged from his fingers to just above his elbows . Scott said the hospital will release him Wednesday.
The complaint charges Pittman with arson. He faces a prison sentence of five to twenty years in prison and/or a fine of $250,000 or less.
The defendant answered each question with a polite "yes sir." He concluded one response to the Magistrate's questions with "Jesus is Lord."
Assistant U.S. Attorney Dr. Matt Allen represented the cause of justice today. Allen asked the Court to keep Pittman in custody. Magistrate Harris set a preliminary hearing and bond hearing for Pittman on January 20 at 3 PM.
Pittman is 19 years old. He completed three semesters of college.
Several agencies issued press releases this afternoon.
A Madison man was arrested Saturday evening for charges related to his alleged arson of Beth Israel Congregation and the Goldring/Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life building. Attorney General Pamela Bondi, United States Attorney J.E. Baxter Kruger for the Southern District of Mississippi, and Special Agent in Charge Robert A. Eikhoff of the FBI Jackson Field Office made the announcement.
“This disgusting act of anti-Semitic violence has no place in our country, and unlike the prior administration, this Department of Justice will not let anti-Semitism fester and flourish,” said Attorney General Pam Bondi. “I have directed my prosecutors to seek severe penalties for this heinous act and remain deeply committed to protecting Jewish Americans from hatred.”
“Every American has a fundamental right to live and worship free from violence and fear,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “The FBI will never waver in our mission to protect Jewish communities from targeted anti-Semitic attacks and will work to hold accountable anyone who engages in these types of violent acts.”
U.S. Attorney J.E. Baxter Kruger of the Southern District of Mississippi said, “This hateful, anti-Semitic attack on the Beth Israel Congregation is disturbing and unacceptable. Mississippians may rest assured that my office will not stand idly by when violence and intimidation threaten our community. We will seek the most serious charges warranted by the evidence and prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law. We remain fully committed to standing with Jewish Americans and protecting our communities from hatred and harm.”
Special Agent in Charge Robert A. Eikhoff of the FBI Jackson Field Office: "Houses of worship are sacred. Citizens of Mississippi of all faiths and backgrounds have the right to worship free of violence and intimidation. The heinous actions of Stephen Spencer Pittman, which allegedly sought to destroy the Beth Israel synagogue, will not be tolerated. While Mr. Pittman acted alone, FBI Jackson will continue to work with our federal, state, and local partners to hold accountable those who seek to infringe on the rights of Americans. The FBI is committed to protecting all places of worship and delivering justice for our communities. As always, we encourage the public to remain vigilant and to promptly report suspicious activities that could represent a threat to public safety."
According to court documents, Stephen Spencer Pittman, 19, of Madison, Mississippi, used gasoline to set fire to the religious building in the early morning hours of Saturday, January 10, 2026. The fire resulted in extensive damage to a significant portion of the building and rendered it inoperable for an indefinite period time, as can be seen in these photographs (posted above - KF).
As a result of his crime, Pittman received burns to parts of his body.
According to its website, the Beth Israel Congregation was founded in 1860, and it has operated in its present location since 1967. On September 18, 1967, the then-new temple on Old Canton Road was bombed by the Ku Klux Klan. The Goldring/Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life provides services to Jewish communities in 14 states and comprehensive religious school programs to 70 Jewish congregations and offers traveling rabbinical services.
Pittman appeared in court today to face charges contained in a criminal complaint filed against him for violating Title 18, United States Code, Section 844(i), which prohibits arson of property used in interstate commerce or used in an activity affecting interstate commerce. If convicted, Pittman faces a minimum penalty of 5 years and a maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI, the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Jackson Police Department, and Jackson Fire Department are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Allen is prosecuting the case.
Mississippi Department of Public Safety
23 comments:
Psych exam coming up.
He must have missed that part of the Bible where God called the Jewish people His chosen people.
Let his sentence begin with community service at Beth Israel helping the people he hurt and repairing the damage he caused. Followed by a long prison sentence. His privileged days over.
This kid seems to have lost touch with reality, with his bizarre comments and beliefs, texting his father as he committed the crime, and then laughingly confessing to it. He is about to get a healthy dose of it, though.
Madison thugs, IYKYK
It's bad enough that many people who have never stepped foot in Mississippi still associate it with the days of Jim Crow and the KKK -- this nutcase just poured gasoline on that image as well.
The father was aware where his son was while his son was committing the act. Life360 app is mentioned... Why did the father not call authorities then... Why wait till daylight. Why not rush to stop the son. Yes the father turned him in later. But.
You people needs to stop asking so many questions you sound like lunatic conspiracy theorists
He goes by his middle name - Spencer - as dad is also Stephen.
“Jesus is Lord” and “Christ is King” are code phrases for the groypers. Candace Owens uses it frequently.
Antisemitism comes in forms other than the pro-Hamas protesters on campus.
Man… he’s gonna be pissed when he finds out that Jesus was Jewish.
I feel so sad for his family. I hope they will get the help they need.
Yes. Hard week for the dad for sure.
The article said he completed 3 semesters of college. Which college? His hat has CCC on it?
Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.
Not sure what his problem is but it was like he wanted everyone to know that he did it. Telling the father then laughing makes me think that this was just fun for him and no consequences for his acts. Much of the youth today thinks they can get out of trouble and reality is not real but a video game. You will find out that 20 years will make your reality real.
CCC = Coahoma Community College.
Cohoma CC
Groyper is a term I was not familiar with so I. googled it. In addition to being antisemitic, it is a white supremacy shit pile. Interesting that he is playing baseball at Coahoma as it is 85% black. You got to wonder how a kid that young with a catholic education living in fashionable Madison gets this messed up. The internet is a wonderful thing - cannot wait for AI to improve it. NOT
Antisemitism??? How about mental illness combined with drugs?
He looks Jewish. No kidding.
From all outward appearances prior to this, he was a good kid, but he suffers from schizophrenia, and one can only guess he was not taking his meds as prescribed.
His hair was darker on zoom this afternoon. I thought it too
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