DOJ Case Summary: U.S. v. Ballinger

Between 1994 and 1999, Jay Scott Ballinger and his girlfriend, Angela Wood, set fire to more than 30 churches, including 13 in Indiana (one of which was the 100-year-old white frame church depicted in the opening scene of the movie, "Hoosiers"); 5 in Georgia; 4 in Kentucky; 3 in Ohio; and 1 each in Alabama, California, South Carolina, and Tennessee. A 27-year-old volunteer firefighter was killed while fighting one of the Georgia fires. The defendants, who identified themselves as "Luciferians" (Satan-worshipers) burned the churches for religious reasons. Ballinger's method for his arsons followed a distinct pattern. Most of the fires Ballinger set occurred late at night or early in the morning, and at isolated rural churches. Ballinger would break a window at the side or back of the church; pour in a flammable mixture, usually gasoline; set the flammable mixture on fire with a lighter; and leave the area. Angela Wood helped Ballinger in setting many of the church fires, primarily acting as a lookout, but also carrying gas cans and other supplies for Ballinger.

On July 11, 2000, Ballinger pled guilty to one count of conspiracy, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371; twenty counts of church arson, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 247; six counts of arson of a building in interstate commerce, in violation of U.S.C. 844(i); and two counts of using fire to commit a federal felony, in violation of U.S.C. 844(h). The guilty plea covered 26 of the 31 arsons, but did not cover the five fires in Georgia. On November 14, 2000, Ballinger was sentenced to 42 years, 7 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. Ballinger was also ordered to make restitution, in the amount of $3,554,388.56, to the churches he had burned. Angela Wood was sentenced to serve 16 years and 8 months in prison after she admitted that she helped Ballinger burn four churches in Indiana.

On April 13, 2001, Ballinger pled guilty to five counts of church arson (18 U.S.C. 247) for the five church fires he set, between 1998 and 1999, in the Northern and Middle Districts of Georgia. As part of the plea, Ballinger admitted that his offense caused the death of a firefighter. On August 17, 2001, Ballinger was sentenced to life in prison without parole.