TUCSON, Ariz. (KGUN) What is the punishment for burning two churches that have been at the heart of Douglas for more than a hundred years?
Now we know. Eric Ridenour was sentenced to more than 36 years in Federal prison.
As Ridenour waited for his sentence, he stood up in court and claimed the Bible justified his actions.
Witnesses in Eric Ridenour’s trial said he told them he felt it broke God’s law to allow women or gays to serve as church leaders.
At the time of the fire, Saint Stephen’s Episcopal Church had a gay vicar. A woman still leads First Presbyterian Church.
Surveillance video recorded Ridenour’s car near the churches as the fires broke out. Store surveillance recorded him buying the same sort of lighter fluid found in one of the burned churches.
Ridenour served as his own attorney. He said very little in his own defense.
At his sentencing Ridenour quoted Bible verses that he said showed he was right to burn the churches and the church congregations were wrong to allow female and gay leaders.
The Reverend John Caleb Collins was Saint Stephen’s vicar the day it burned.
He says, “And someone who not only has no remorse, but who finds joy in the harm that had been done, and including the harm potentially done to children nearby, is someone who I think is, frankly evil, and I do pray for his repentance. I believe evil can be redeemed, but he, at this time, has chosen to remain evil, and I believe we are safer because he is in prison.”
Church members say they see mercy in God’s word say they—and God can forgive Eric Ridenour.
Gary Restaino is U.S. Attorney for Arizona. We asked if he’s concerned he will see more hate crimes.
He says, “This is what deterrence is all about. But it's not just prosecution solutions. We need to talk better to each other, and there's a more healthy outlet for that. We certainly respect anyone's right to believe what they want to believe. We need to punish when actions are motivated by the underlying biases.”
Now Ridenour is about 60—and looking at more than 36 years in Federal prison. Congregation members say he is so unrepentant they fear if he’s ever released he’ll burn churches again.
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Craig Smith is a reporter for KGUN 9. With more than 40 years of reporting in cities like Tampa, Houston and Austin, Craig has covered more than 40 Space Shuttle launches and covered historic hurricanes like Katrina, Ivan, Andrew and Hugo. Share your story ideas and important issues with Craig by emailing craig.smith@kgun9.com or by connecting on Facebook and Twitter.
