Holden Matthews — otherwise known as that dude who set fire to a series of Louisiana Baptist churches last year — has pleaded guilty in relation to three counts of arson.
The former Vodka Vultures bassist, now 22 years old, was arrested last April in connection to the crimes, which did irreparable damage to three Black churches.
On Monday (February 10), Matthews admitted to intentionally setting fire to St. Mary Baptist Church in Port Barre, the Greater Union Baptist Church in Opelousas and the Mount Pleasant Baptist Church in Opelousas, all of which are in Louisiana.
All three churches had "predominantly African-American congregations," according to the Department of Justice.
At his plea hearing, Matthews admitted to burning the churches "because of the religious character of these buildings, in an effort to raise his profile as a 'Black Metal' musician by copying similar crimes committed in Norway in the 1990s."
In a statement, Special Agent in Charge Bryan Vorndran said, "Holden Matthews made a conscious decision to randomly target and destroy churches within his own community. His atrocious actions inflicted severe pain and grief upon these congregations, as well as all of St. Landry Parish."
Matthews will be sentenced on May 22 and faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison.
According to The Daily Beast, Matthews had previously made jokes online related to white supremacy and commented on memes related to church-burning OG (and convicted murderer) Varg Vikernes.
The former Vodka Vultures bassist, now 22 years old, was arrested last April in connection to the crimes, which did irreparable damage to three Black churches.
On Monday (February 10), Matthews admitted to intentionally setting fire to St. Mary Baptist Church in Port Barre, the Greater Union Baptist Church in Opelousas and the Mount Pleasant Baptist Church in Opelousas, all of which are in Louisiana.
All three churches had "predominantly African-American congregations," according to the Department of Justice.
At his plea hearing, Matthews admitted to burning the churches "because of the religious character of these buildings, in an effort to raise his profile as a 'Black Metal' musician by copying similar crimes committed in Norway in the 1990s."
In a statement, Special Agent in Charge Bryan Vorndran said, "Holden Matthews made a conscious decision to randomly target and destroy churches within his own community. His atrocious actions inflicted severe pain and grief upon these congregations, as well as all of St. Landry Parish."
Matthews will be sentenced on May 22 and faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison.
According to The Daily Beast, Matthews had previously made jokes online related to white supremacy and commented on memes related to church-burning OG (and convicted murderer) Varg Vikernes.
