Accused Beth Israel arsonist Spencer Pittman will undergo a psychiatric examination to see if he is mentally competent to stand trial.
Pittman (allegedly) torched the Beth Israel Congregation synagogue on Old Canton Road in the early morning hours of January 10. The crime stunned Mississippi and made national headlines. A federal grand jury indicted Pittman for arson, damage to religious property, and use of fire to commit a felony after he allegedly torched Beth Israel Congregation at 3 AM on January 10. The Court denied bond for Pittman.
The defendant submitted a motion for a psychiatric examination August 20. The motion argues:
Defense counsel and other employees for the Office of the Federal Public Defender have met with or spoken with the defendant since being appointed on this matter. Defense counsel believes that the defendant may currently be suffering from an undefined mental disease. As such, the defense counsel believes this undefined mental disease makes the defendant unable to understand the nature of the proceedings against him or participate in possible plea negotiations nor accept any current plea offer made by the Government in this matter.
Pittman asked the Court to order a competency evaluation for himself. Magistrate LeKeysha Greer-Isaac obliged and ordered the evaluation for Pittman. The evaluation will be conducted at a federal facility. A report will be filed with the Court.
The accused arsonist is scheduled to go to trial on October 5.
The charge of damage to religious property carries a maximum penalty of 20 years or less in prison and/or a maximum fine of $20,000 while the charge of use of fire to commit a felony carries a maximum penalty of a prison sentence of 10 years and/or a maximum fine of $250,000. Pittman faces a prison sentence of 5-20 years and/or a fine of up to $250,000 if convicted of arson.
Synopsis of Case
Stephen Spencer Pittman allegedly torched Beth Israel Congregation at 3 AM January 10. The fire burned up the library, destroying two Torahs, and offices. Beth Israel is at 5135 Old Canton Road and was built in 1967.
The FBI arrested Pittman later that day and charged him with arson. An FBI Special Agent's affidavit said Pittman allegedly walked into the building with a gas container. Pittman drove from his Madison home, stopped at Mac's Gas in Ridgeland to fill up a gas container, and continued on to Beth Israel. He completely covered his face and removed his license plate so as to prevent identification.
Once at Beth Israel, Pittman inexplicably texted his father a picture of the rear of Beth Israel and messages such as "There's a furnace in the back," "Btw my plate is off," "Hoodie is on", and "they have the best cameras."
The father begged his son to come home but Spencer Pittman replied he "was due for a home run" and "I did my research." Later that morning, Pittman's father saw he had burns on his hands, ankles, and face. The father confronted his son, who promptly confessed.
The accused arsonist said he broke open a window at Beth Israel, went inside, and set it in fire. Pittman laughed as he told the story to his father, bragging "he finally got them." The little firebug called Beth Israel the "synagogue of Satan", a common trope among anti-Semites.
Pittman's father turned him into the police.
The federal grand jury indicted him several days later for arson. Pittman faces between 5 and 20 years in prison and/or a fine of $250,000 or less if convicted.
A Hinds County grand jury indicted him for arson within 48 hours of the attack as well. The indictment seeks an enhancement since the building burned was a place of worship. The enhancement will double the maximum penalty from 30 to 60 years in prison.
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