A man, who set a fire that destroyed an Islamic center in southeast Missouri two years ago, has pleaded guilty to hate crime and arson charges, the Associated Press reported quoting the US Justice Department on Tuesday. Nicholas John Proffitt, 44, entered the plea in the case of the torching of the Cape Girardeau Islamic Center on April 24, 2020, which was the first day of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. It was the second time he attacked the building. Security video showed Proffitt breaking the building's glass window and throwing two containers inside. He then entered the building, poured the contents of two gallon-size containers throughout the foyer and the hallway and lit the blaze. About a dozen people were inside at the time but escaped unharmed. The fire made the building unsuitable for use. Proffitt admitted he set the blaze because of the religious nature of the building, prosecutors said. His lawyer did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment. Proffitt faces up to 20 years in prison for damage to religious property and a mandatory minimum of 10 years, consecutive to any other sentence, for using fire to commit a federal felony. He also could be fined up to $250,000 on each charge. Sentencing is set for May 22. In 2009, Proffitt pleaded guilty to state charges for throwing rocks that damaged the same mosque and a vehicle in the parking lot. He was sentenced to three years in prison in that incident. — Agencies
