CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO – Nicholas John Proffitt, 44, will spend over 15 years in federal prison for deliberately torching the Cape Girardeau Islamic Center on the first morning of Ramadan in April 2020. Proffitt was sentenced to 191 months – that’s 15 years and 11 months – followed by three years of supervised release. He’ll also be on the hook for $551,217.91 to cover the damage he caused.
The arson wasn’t a random act. Court documents reveal Proffitt specifically targeted the Islamic Center because of its religious character. He pleaded guilty last December to using fire to damage religious property and committing a federal felony with fire. The blaze caused significant damage, disrupting the Muslim community’s worship and leaving a visible scar on Cape Girardeau.
“This defendant has now been held accountable,” stated Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. But the statement rings hollow to many; the damage is done. Clarke added, “Attacks on mosques in our country are attacks on people of faith that undermine the fundamental right to practice one’s religion free from fear or violence.” The Justice Department, she assured, will “vigorously enforce federal laws” to protect all houses of worship.
This wasn’t Proffitt’s first rodeo. U.S. Attorney Sayler A. Fleming for the Eastern District of Missouri pointed out that this is the third time Proffitt has attacked Islamic institutions, spanning multiple states. “He has now been sentenced to a significant prison term that will protect the community from further persecution for a long time,” Fleming said. But questions remain: what allowed this repeat offender to continue his pattern of hate?
ATF Director Steven Dettelbach chimed in, stating, “The right to pray as you wish is at the core of our nation’s ideals. When someone attacks a house of worship, they attack that American right, and they need to be held accountable.” The investigation was a joint effort between the FBI, ATF, Cape Girardeau Police, the Missouri State Fire Marshal, and the Perryville Police Department. Special Agent in Charge Jay Greenberg of the FBI St. Louis Field Office added, “Nicholas Proffitt destroyed a religious building, but he couldn’t take away the constitutional right to religious freedom.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Hahn and Trial Attorney Daniel Grunert secured the conviction and sentencing. While Proffitt is behind bars, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing threat of religious-based violence. Anyone with information about hate crimes is encouraged to visit www.justice.gov/hatecrimes. This case underscores the need for continued vigilance and robust prosecution of those who seek to terrorize communities based on their faith.
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