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DALLAS, Ore. (AP) — A Grand Ronde man will serve 18 months in prison after pleading guilty to setting fires that destroyed a church and damaged an elementary school.
Larry W. Whitley, 18, admitted his participation in the attacks against Grand Ronde Elementary School and Church of the Nazarene on back-to-back nights in early July.
Polk County Judge Fred Avera compared the arsons to church burnings conducted during the civil rights movement. “Can you envision the horror you caused?” Avera said. “You evoked the memory of one of the most horrible, shameful times in this nation’s history.”
Avera also held Whitley liable for more than $703,000 in damage.
Whitley had several charges dropped in exchange for testimony against his alleged accomplice, a 15-year-old who is awaiting a trial date.
Given a chance to speak prior to Friday’s sentencing, Whitley told the judge, “Me and my friend, we’re not bad kids. We just messed up this time.”
That prompted Avera to ask Whitley what he thought a pentagram found spray-painted on the church meant. Whitley responded, “Just a joke, I don’t know.” When the judge pressed him, he added, “Signifying the devil, I don’t know.”
The judge then asked Whitley about a swastika and profane religious statements also spray-painted at the church, and received similar responses. Avera also asked why Whitley and his accomplice chose to target a school and a church, buildings located across the street from each other.
“No reason at all,” Whitley responded at first, later adding, “Just because it was there, I guess.”
Whitley lived about 500 yards from the church and the school, which were across the street from each other.
Whitley’s mother attended the hearing, but when the judge asked if she wanted to speak, she said, “No, I don’t. It’ll make me cry.”
At the time of his arrest, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office said deputies found evidence of three molotov cocktails made at Whitley’s home. Two were used in a suspected attempt to burn the school, and one was allegedly used at the church.
David Crabb, pastor of the Nazarene church, said his congregation is meeting in a fellowship hall within an annex building on the same piece of property as the sanctuary that burned down.
Insurance will cover replacement of the church, but no plans have been drawn up.
“We’re still praying over what God wants us to do, in terms of what facility would minister to our community the best,” Crabb said.
Larry W. Whitley, 18, admitted his participation in the attacks against Grand Ronde Elementary School and Church of the Nazarene on back-to-back nights in early July.
Polk County Judge Fred Avera compared the arsons to church burnings conducted during the civil rights movement. “Can you envision the horror you caused?” Avera said. “You evoked the memory of one of the most horrible, shameful times in this nation’s history.”
Avera also held Whitley liable for more than $703,000 in damage.
Whitley had several charges dropped in exchange for testimony against his alleged accomplice, a 15-year-old who is awaiting a trial date.
Given a chance to speak prior to Friday’s sentencing, Whitley told the judge, “Me and my friend, we’re not bad kids. We just messed up this time.”
That prompted Avera to ask Whitley what he thought a pentagram found spray-painted on the church meant. Whitley responded, “Just a joke, I don’t know.” When the judge pressed him, he added, “Signifying the devil, I don’t know.”
The judge then asked Whitley about a swastika and profane religious statements also spray-painted at the church, and received similar responses. Avera also asked why Whitley and his accomplice chose to target a school and a church, buildings located across the street from each other.
“No reason at all,” Whitley responded at first, later adding, “Just because it was there, I guess.”
Whitley lived about 500 yards from the church and the school, which were across the street from each other.
Whitley’s mother attended the hearing, but when the judge asked if she wanted to speak, she said, “No, I don’t. It’ll make me cry.”
At the time of his arrest, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office said deputies found evidence of three molotov cocktails made at Whitley’s home. Two were used in a suspected attempt to burn the school, and one was allegedly used at the church.
David Crabb, pastor of the Nazarene church, said his congregation is meeting in a fellowship hall within an annex building on the same piece of property as the sanctuary that burned down.
Insurance will cover replacement of the church, but no plans have been drawn up.
“We’re still praying over what God wants us to do, in terms of what facility would minister to our community the best,” Crabb said.
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