Jackson Jambalaya

 The wheels of justice are moving swiftly indeed for young Stephen Spencer Pittman.  The Hinds County grand jury indicted Pittman for first degree arson - place of worship yesterday.  The indictment states: 

 

The defendant faces up to 60 years in prison if convicted of arson with a place of worship enhancement in Hinds County Circuit Court.  

Pittman allegedly torched Beth Israel Congregation at 3 AM Saturday.  The fire burned up the library, destroying two Torahs, and offices.  The sanctuary was unscathed as Jackson firefighters feverishly extinguished the flames. 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 (that appears to be of the 5-gallon variety). Pittman drove from his Madison home, stopped at Mac's Gas in Ridgeland (where he presumably filled up the gas container), and continued on to Beth Israel.  He completely covered his face so as to prevent identification.  

Once at Beth Israel, Pittman could not help himself and started texting his father.  He texted the elder Pittman a picture of the rear of Beth Israel and "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.  He bragged "he finally got them."  

Pittman's father turned him into the police. The FBI, Jackson Fire Department, and Hinds County Sheriff's Office quizzed Pittman.  Pittman admitted to setting the "Synagogue of Satan" on fire. He used an axe to enter the building, pured gas, and used a torch lighter to start the fire.  Police later found the lighter and his burned iPhone at the scene.   

The defendant faces a federal prison sentence of 5-20 years and/or a fine of $250,000 or less.  

 

 Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens issued the following statement: 

The Hinds County District Attorney’s Office today announced that a 19-year-old individual has been indicted in connection with the January 10, 2026 arson of Beth Israel Congregation, Mississippi’s largest synagogue. The fire caused significant damage to the place of worship and is alleged to have been motivated by religious hatred, elevating the case to one of the most serious arson prosecutions available under Mississippi law.

Beth Israel Congregation has endured violence in its history, including a 1967 Ku Klux Klan bombing during the civil-rights era, and this case arises amid a documented increase in attacks on houses of worship across the United States, including arson, vandalism, and other acts of targeted violence. Such crimes are intended to intimidate entire religious communities. Violence directed at any place of worship, regardless of faith, will not be tolerated in Jackson, MS.

The defendant has been charged with First-Degree Arson of a Place of Worship in violation of Mississippi Code Annotated § 97-17-3(1). The indictment further includes a hate-crime sentencing enhancement pursuant to Mississippi Code Annotated §§ 99-19-301 and 99-19-307, alleging the offense was committed because of the actual or perceived religion of the victim. A copy of the indictment is attached.

The fire occurred in the early morning hours of January 10, 2026, resulting in extensive damage to the synagogue. The defendant sustained injuries during the incident and remains hospitalized. No members of the congregation were physically injured.

Under Mississippi law, first-degree arson of a place of worship is punishable by a sentence of five (5) to thirty (30) years in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections, in addition to court-ordered restitution for the damage caused. Because the indictment alleges the offense was motivated by hate, Mississippi law authorizes enhanced punishment, including a term of imprisonment of up to twice the sentence (60 years) otherwise permitted by statute, if proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

Although this case has drawn national attention, the Hinds County District Attorney’s Office emphasizes that this prosecution is fundamentally about protecting Mississippi communities and enforcing the rule of law in Jackson. Federal hate-crime data consistently show that religion-based hate crimes remain among the most frequently reported bias-motivated offenses nationwide, and that anti-Jewish bias accounts for a disproportionate share of those incidents, despite Jewish Americans comprising a small percentage of the U.S. population. These documented trends emphasize the seriousness of crimes that target religious communities and the need for decisive legal action.

The Hinds County District Attorney’s Office is working in close coordination with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, and looks forward to continued collaboration as this case proceeds through the judicial process. This unified approach reflects a commitment to addressing bias-motivated violence using all available legal avenues.

“Crimes motivated by hate and directed at places of worship strike at the core of who we are as a community and at the fundamental right to worship freely and safely. Mississippi law treats these offenses with the seriousness they demand, including enhanced penalties when bias is involved,” said District Attorney Jody E. Owens, II. “This indictment reflects our commitment to enforcing those laws fully and ensuring that acts intended to intimidate or terrorize religious communities are met with decisive accountability.”