4-Year Jail Term for Man in Huston for Starting Fire at Mosque

TEHRAN (IQNA) – A man in Houston, US state of Texas, was sentenced Friday to four years in prison after pleading guilty to starting a fire at a mosque on Christmas Day.

Gary Nathaniel Moore, 38 of Houston, was arrested last year in connection with a fire at 2 p.m. on Dec. 25 at a storefront mosque in the 1200 block of Wilcrest.

Moore told investigators at the scene that he had attended the mosque for five years, coming five times per day to pray seven days per week, according to court records, chron.com reported.

Moore pleaded guilty to arson and using a fire as a deadly weapon, an enhancement which means he will have to serve at least half of the prison time before being eligible for parole.

Moore's attorney, who would not give his name, declined to answer questions after the brief hearing in state District Judge Jan Krocker's court.