The accused arsonist in the burning of Beth Israel synagogue will stay put right in the Madison County jail where he belongs.
U.S. Magistrate Lakeysha Greer-Isaac held an arraignment and detention hearing for Stephen Spencer Pittman yesterday. The 19 year-old Pittman stands accused of torching Mississippi's largest synagogue in the early morning hours of January 10. A federal grand jury indicted Pittman for arson last week.
Pittman shuffled into the courtroom accompanied by his attorney, Federal Public Defender Mike Scott. The defendant wore an orange jump suit with "Madison County Jail" spelled out on the back. Pittman has been housed in the Madison County jail since last week after he was released from the hospital. He sat through most of the hearing, chewing on a thumb nail. His hands and ankles were heavily bandaged.
Standing at the podium flanked by his attorney, Pittman faced Judge Isaac. Every seat was taken was reporters, Beth Israel members, and a contingent of students from Mississippi College School of Law packed the courtroom.
Scott tried to argue his client suffered from a medical history that kept him from understanding what is going on in the courtroom. Judge Isaac asked Pittman if he understood what was being said. The defendant replied "Yes ma'am.
Pittman pleaded not guilty to the charge of arson. Judge Isaac set his trial for February 23, 2026. However, the trial will undoubtedly be continued as the magistrate scheduled the trial so early to meet speedy trial law requirements.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Allen moved to deny bond, arguing arson is a crime of violence and Pittman poses a serious threat of injury to witnesses in the case.
Scott claimed arson is not one of the enumerated crimes that seeks a mandatory detention. The attorney said the defendant has ties to the community, no money, and no means of flight. Even if he was inclined to flee, his injuries prevent him from doing so. "Is he a danger to witnesses? He has threatened no-one in particular. He has not made a threat to any member of Beth Israel Congregation. He is no danger to any particular witness.
Allen fired back, charging arson is indeed a crime of violence since it "involves a “substantial risk that
physical force against the person or property of another may be used in the course of committing the offense.” The prosecutor claimed Pittman's parents are "fearful of him." The father was too scared to call the police while in the presence of his son. The defendant's mother was going to lock bedroom doors because she was scared of her son as well. Allen said Pittman made anti-Semitic remarks about Beth Israel.
Scott stood up for his client again, claiming the parents being too afraid of their son to call police does not mean he is a serious danger to others. "They don't argue he is a danger to a specific witness. The government claimed he made anti-Semitic comment in general and about no one in particular," said the lawyer. He closed by asking for home confinement for his client. (He is asking for home confinement with parents who are scared of their son?)
The pre-trial report said Spencer Pittman occasionally used marijuana since he was 14 years old.
Judge Isaac ruled the Justice Department made a sufficient case to move forward with the detention hearing. She declined to rule on whether arson is a crime of violence. Thus the hearing focused on whether Pittman could be considered a threat to others.
Allen called FBI Special Agent Ariel Williams to the stand. The smartly dressed agent said associates of Pittman heard him say he wanted to burn a synagogue. The elder Pittman told the FBI his son had behaved erratically lately. He was afraid to contact law enforcement when he realized he burned the synagogue so he devised a plan with his wife where she would take Spencer to the hospital so the father could call the police.
Pittman the Elder told the FBI he saw behavioral changes in his son since he came home from winter break at school. He made anti-Semitic statements and said things that made them unsure how he would react. The mother expressed relief when her son was arrested. She said the family pets were afraid of Spencer. An audience member exclaimed "motherfucker" when the dogs were mentioned.
The FBI interviewed Spencer at UMC where he confessed to setting the fire.
Upon cross-examination, Williams admitted she did not interview any witnesses nor investigate the case. The Special Agent said her role was to review reports, speak to agents, and testify in court.
Scott said the elder Pittman did not mention a specific threat and got the Special Agent to admit Spencer did not make any specific threats. He said several associates of Pittman expressed comments about his behavior but were not afraid of him.
In closing Allen said Pittman set fire to a Jewish place of worship. Such should be considered the intentional setting on fire of a religious structure. He made comments prior to the attack he was targeting Jewish persons. He confessed his crime to his father and the FBI. The parents expressed fear.
Scott reiterated his position: There is no evidence of threats against any person or that he would harm anyone. The government has not met its burden showing he is a danger to a witness or juror. "No witnesses expressed fear of Scott," said the attorney in closing. "There is a serious risk he will do it again," rebutted Allen.
Judge Isaac recessed the Court as she pondered her decision.
The Court found the weight of evidence against Spencer Pittman is strong. She recounted the arguments from both sides. "The Court is concerned about a concrete prospective threat to the public," said the magistrate.
The government did not meet the standard of showing Pittman is a flight risk but met its burden of showing he is a danger to others in the community. "He will remain detained until trial," concluded Judge Isaac.
Synopsis
Pittman allegedly torched Beth Israel Congregation at 3 AM Saturday. 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. Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens 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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6 comments:
Good recap.
Tainting the jury pool
Wapt said his parents and pets were afraid of him. Does he have mental illness?
Is he a only child?
Like I posted yesterday, there was no preliminary hearing.
Wimpy parents.
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