DOJ Case Summary: U.S. v. Odom

On the night of June 30, 1997, Alan Odom, Brandy Boone, John Kenneth Cumbie, Jeremy Boone, and Michael Woods decided to commit an arson in Little River, Alabama. The group drove to a nearby gas station, where Odom filled a small plastic bottle with gasoline drained from the pump hoses. They then went off in search of an abandoned car to burn.

Unable to find an abandoned car, Boone said, "Let's burn the nigger church." They drove to St. Joseph's Baptist Church. Woods kicked in the church's back door, poured the gasoline on a couch, and used Odom's lighter to light the gasoline. They got back into their cars, but Woods went back and put out the fire. After putting out the fire, Woods initially drove away from the church, but after about 200 yards, he turned back. Woods and Odom re-entered St. Joe Baptist and set the curtains on fire. They then left, although Woods later returned to watch the church burn.

Later that night, Odom and Jeremy Boone drove to the Tate Chapel African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E.) Zion Church, near St. Joseph's Baptist Church. Boone kicked open the door and he and Odom entered the church. Once inside, Odom and Boone used a bottle to punch several holes in the church walls. They then used a lighter to try to set fires in several places.

On July 31, 1997, a federal grand jury issued a ten-count indictment charging the defendants with conspiracy, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371; damage to religious property because of the religious character of that property, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 247(a)(1); damage to religious property because of the race of any individual associated with that property, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 247(c); use of fire or an explosive to commit a federal felony, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 844(h)(1); arson, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 844(i); and aiding and abetting an offense against the United States, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 2. The first five counts related to the burning of the St. Joseph's Baptist Church, and the other five involved the arson of the Tate Chapel A.M.E.

In connection with the arson of St. Joseph Baptist Church, Woods pled guilty to violating 18 U.S.C. 844(i) and 18 U.S.C. 247, and was sentenced to 60 months in prison. Brandy Boone and Cumbie were convicted at trial of the conspiracy count and Odom was convicted of violating one count of 18 U.S.C. 844(i) and one count of 18 U.S.C. 844(h)(1). Boone and Cumbie were each sentenced to 41 months in prison.

Odom and Jeremy Boone were tried separately for the attempted arson of the Tate Chapel A.M.E Church. Jeremy Boone pled guilty to violating 18 U.S.C. 844(i) and was sentenced to 46 months in prison. Odom was convicted at trial of violating 18 U.S.C. 844(i) and was sentenced to 180 months in prison for his role in both offenses.

All the defendants were ordered to pay restitution, which totaled $96,836.