Springfield man who burned church after Obama election gets nearly 14 years in prison

By Milton J. Valencia, Globe Staff

One of the three men convicted of setting fire to a predominantly black church in Springfield to protest the historic election of President Obama in 2008 was sentenced today to nearly 14 years in prison.

Michael Jacques, 27, of Springfield, will also have to serve four years of supervised probation once he is released, and must pay nearly $1.6 million in restitution, including $123,570 to the Macedonia Church of God in Christ, the church he and two others torched in November 2008.

Jacques was convicted after a trial in US District Court in Springfield in April of charges of conspiracy against civil rights, destruction of religious property, and use of a fire to commit a felony.

He was the only one who went to trial. His associates pleaded guilty to the civil rights charges in June 2010. Benjamin Haskell was sentenced to nine years in prison in November 2010; Thomas Gleason is slated to be sentenced on Jan. 18.

The raging blaze at the church, was still under construction, created national headlines not only because of the nature of the crime in protest of a historic moment in United States? history, but also because of the greater community?s response in uniting and rebuilding the church.

?As evidenced in this case, hate crimes victimize not only individuals but entire communities,? United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz said in a statement. ?We remain committed to protecting our communities from violence motivated by bigotry and prejudice, and ensuring that justice is served to victims.?

Source: http://feeds.boston.com/click.phdo?i=1de2118756a83e53937a57188cf89463

mashed potato recipe cranberry sauce oregon usc la auto show powerball winning numbers powerball winning numbers uc davis pepper spray