LOVELAND, CO – A 21-year-old man is facing federal charges after allegedly setting fire to a Loveland church earlier this week. Darion Ray Sexton is accused of hurling Molotov cocktail-style devices at the building, igniting fires both at the front door and in the basement.
The blaze erupted late in the evening of January 19th, drawing a swift response from local fire crews. While first responders quickly extinguished the front door fire, the basement fire was partially suppressed by the building’s sprinkler system. Investigators quickly determined the fires weren’t accidental. Broken glass bottles smelling of gasoline were discovered near both fire locations, alongside a partially melted plastic bottle in the basement.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) determined multiple points of origin for the fires, confirming a deliberate act. Crucially, a doorbell camera captured a masked individual throwing what authorities describe as a “Molotov-cocktail”-type device at the church’s entrance. Footprints in the snow led investigators from the scene to a nearby neighborhood and ultimately to Sexton’s residence.
A search of Sexton’s home allegedly turned up a plastic bottle matching the one found in the church basement. Further investigation revealed video footage from a Loveland liquor store, dated two days prior to the arson, showing a man resembling Sexton purchasing bottles similar to the broken glass found at the scene. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado filed a criminal complaint against Sexton on January 23rd.
Sexton appeared before United States Magistrate Judge James P. O’Hara and was ordered detained pending trial. He is charged with causing damage to a Loveland Church by fire. The investigation was a joint effort between the FBI, ATF, and the Loveland Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Bryan Fields is prosecuting the case.
It’s important to remember that these are allegations, and Darion Ray Sexton is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. The case number is 23-mj-00026. Grimy Times will continue to follow this case as it unfolds.
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