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Ex-Concord Man Sets Church Ablaze in Hate Crime
OAKLAND – Hugo John Scherzberg, 48, formerly of Concord, pleaded guilty to committing a religious hate crime in relation to the March 20, 2010, fire at a church in Pittsburg, Calif.
Scherzberg admitted to using gasoline and a lighter to set fire to the Church of the Living God, Christian Workers for Fellowship, Temple #21 (Workers Fellowship) located on Harbor Street in Pittsburg.
He chose the church because it had the words ‘Living God’ in its name and it was ‘readily accessible.’
The fire caused significant damage to the entire church building and property within the building, with losses totaling more than $490,000, according to insurance claims.
Scherzberg agreed to make restitution for these losses.
He faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years imprisonment and a fine of $250,000 (or twice the gross gain or loss caused by the offense, whichever is greater), plus restitution.
Scherzberg’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for March 28, 2016, at 2:00 p.m. before the Honorable Haywood S. Gilliam, Jr., U.S. District Judge, in Oakland.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Contra Costa County Fire Investigation Unit, with assistance from the San Francisco Fire Department, San Francisco Police Department, and San Francisco District Attorney’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew S. Huang is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Vanessa Quant, Trina Khadoo, and Stephanie Mitchell.
Key Facts
- State: California
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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