United States v. Grassie

STEPHEN H. ANDERSON, Circuit Judge.

Walter Gene Grassie appeals his conviction and sentence, following a jury trial, on charges of burning down a church and defacing and damaging four churches belonging to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (“LDS” or “Mormon” herein); and the arson of a truck. The church arson was charged under three separate statutes: felony destruction of a church by fire, because of the religious character of the property, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 247 (Count I); arson of a building or vehicle used in any activity affecting interstate commerce, in violation…