Post includes audio of Pittman's arraignment and detention hearing.
Spencer Pittman wants to get out of jail. The FBI arrested Pittman after he torched Beth Israel Congregation in the early morning hours of January 10.
A federal grand jury indicted Pittman for Arson. U.S. Magistrate Lakeysha Greer-Isaac held an arraignment and detention hearing for Stephen Spencer Pittman January 20. The Magistrate denied bond and ordered he remain incarcerated at the Madison County Detention Center as she stated he posed a danger to the community. Earlier post on detention hearing.
Audio of detention hearing and arraignment.
Pittman filed a motion to revoke and amend the detention order Tuesday. The motion argues the Bail Reform Act does not authorize a detention hearing. Such a hearing can only take place when the suspect is feared to be a flight risk, the crime is one of violence, the crime carries a maximum sentence of life in prison, or if the suspect has two felony convictions. Federal code text.
The motion repeats the arguments Pittman's attorney, Michael Scott, made at his detention hearing. Arson is not a crime of violence. No force was used against another person. There is no serious risk of witness intimidation. Although the government said he made remarks to his parents that were anti-Semitic and made them uncomfortable, the prosecution never said what the statements actually were.
It is argued Pittman is not a flight risk since he is injured, has strong family ties in the community, and lacks the means or money to flee.
The motion concludes by claiming Pittman is not a threat to the community.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Allen is prosecuting the case.
Kingfish note: The motion is little more than a regurgitation of the arguments made at the hearing. The Court will give it the same treatment and deny bond. However, the defense did raise an interesting point. During the hearing, a Special Agent kept referring to statements allegedly made by Pittman but never actually said what the statements were.
Synopsis of Case
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.
Posted below: Motion to revoke detention order, Reply supporting motion for bond, Response opposing motion for bond, motion for bond, indictment, FBI affidavit
16 comments:
What did Pittman expect ? He should have thought about the consequences when he poured the gas. He will be on a turkey based diet soon enough.
Tough shit. I hope he gets the full 60 years.
If he is loced up in Hinds County jail he is in a living hell!! LOL LOL...He will be wearing panties by June.
It's literally in the 4th sentence that he's in Madison County Detention Center
Someone needs to tell him jail is going to be the high point of his next 60 years, and he needs to start accumulating days so he will get out earlier 60 years from now. Who knows - he could still be alive in 59 years, 250 days.
And WHY, after he had fully revealed to his father what he was about to do, including how he was planning to conceal his identity, did the father not demand that he stop or better yet, physically drive to the location to stop him??? Though I'm sure turning his son in at all was difficult, waiting until the next morning to turn him in was not good enough and makes him complicit.
Otherwise known as a motion to lose again.
What did he think was going to happen? Thunderous applause and a medal? What now then-a pardon from the Governor or President?
Oh no.
Anyway.....
He doesn't like jail. Who knew?
Has his mother washed her hands of him??? I read in another article she was happy to get him out of the house. He was becoming violent
There will be some angry people when the judge releases him on probation.
They seem to release much worse routinely, right?
Consequences suck sometimes. In a few years, after his pre-frontal cortex matures, the young Mr. Pittman will connect the dots ... and yods and tittles.
Ah, but 1:23, you would then be assuming at least an elementary reading comprehension level of KF readers. (yes, I am aware I'm including myself in that comment)
I hope the judge keeps him in jail. Its by the grace of God that nobody was in that Synagogue when he threw gas around and started that fire.
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