PROVIDENCE – A Rhode Island man has agreed to plead guilty to charges that he set fire to a North Providence church earlier this year, targeting it because of its mostly Black membership, according to court documents.
Kevin Colantonio of North Providence was arrested a few days after the early morning fire Feb. 11 at Shiloh Gospel Temple, a Pentecostal church at 974 Charles St.
He has admitted to buying a Bic lighter and gasoline at a nearby Cumberland Farms on Mineral Spring Avenue shortly before midnight, pouring the gasoline around the outside of the church and igniting it, according to a plea agreement filed Friday in U.S. District Court, Providence.
Colantonio’s actions prevented church congregants from their free exercise of religious beliefs because services were canceled until the church could reopen, court papers say. Colantonio also stipulated that he chose the church because of the actual or perceived color, race, religion, national origin or ethnicity of its congregants, court papers say.
Colantonio has also agreed to plead guilty to charges that he threw feces and urine at two prison guards who were delivering his breakfast on March 4 at the Donald W. Wyatt Detention Facility in Central Falls, court papers show.
Investigators were able to find an image of Colantonio buying gasoline and a lighter shortly before the fire.
Colantonio is being charged with damage to a religious property, malicious damage by means of fire and two counts of assault of a federal office. The first two counts carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The second count requires a minimum sentence of five years.
The arson unnerved members of the church, which has about 100 members, and drew intense police scrutiny. Pastor Eric Perry said the fire could have been fatal if the church had been holding a service when it was set.
The Office of the State Fire Marshal and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives joined the North Providence Police Department in investigating the crime.
Surveillance video, information from witnesses and a bank card helped lead police to Colantonio. Investigators say they found racist writings in Colantonio’s apartment. An assistant U.S. Attorney read from one of them during Colantonio’s initial court appearance four days after the fire. It said, “Hunt them down. Gun everyone who isn’t white.”
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Defendant will admit setting fire to Black church in North Providence