Douglas church arson suspect also facing hate crime charges
Download mp3 (1.14 MB)The border town of Douglas, Arizona, is known for having four churches of different denominations located on the same intersection.
A local man is now facing hate crime charges in connection with the suspected arson of two those churches in May.
Four Christian denominations are located on Church Square in Douglas.
Prosecutors say Eric Ridenour set fire to the churches — Saint Stephen’s Episcopal and First Presbyterian — because they let women and LGBTQ people be leaders.
Ridenour is accused of forcefully taking church members’ freedom to exercise their religious beliefs.
The hate crime charges are in a superseding indictment filed the same day a federal magistrate judge ordered that a mental health professional determine if Ridenour is competent to stand trial.
