COLUMBUS, Ohio — A man from Pickerington pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court this week to committing a civil rights violation by burning a house of worship. Benjamin Darrell Ruckel, 25, admitted to violating the Church Arson Prevention Act by setting fire to the Mount Zion Church in Baltimore, Ohio, on November 27, 2021. Ruckel confessed to intentionally setting the fire because of the religious character of the church.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Civil Rights Division said, “The defendant in this case is being held accountable for the devastating church arson that impacted an entire community of worshipers. The Justice Department is committed to ensuring that religious practice is protected from forceful interference and will continue to prosecute those who commit acts of violence against houses of worship because of their religious character.”
U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker said that “every resident in the Southern District of Ohio should be free to worship without any criminal acts occurring against them or the place in which they come together to do so. Combatting these types of unlawful acts is a priority for my office, and together with our law enforcement partners, we will continue to vigorously use every criminal enforcement tool at our disposal to address civil rights violations.”
The FBI Cincinnati Special Agent in Charge, J. William Rivers, stated that “religious freedom is a cornerstone of our nation, and the FBI will continue to protect the rights of Americans to worship safely.” Rivers added that “as the lead agency for investigating criminal violations of federal civil rights statutes, the FBI works closely with law enforcement, religious organizations, and community groups to reduce civil rights abuses.”
Court documents revealed that Ruckel broke the windows of the church, spread accelerant before setting the church ablaze, causing extensive damage. Violating the Church Arson Prevention Act is punishable by up to 20 years in prison.