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Suspect in string of Louisiana church fires charged with hate crimes

4 years 5 months 2 weeks ago Monday, April 15 2019 Apr 15, 2019 April 15, 2019 5:09 AM April 15, 2019 in News
Source: Associated Press
OPELOUSAS (AP) - Prosecutors have now added hate crime charges against the white suspect in three recent arson fires that destroyed African American churches in Louisiana.
  
Twenty-one-year-old Holden Matthews pleaded not guilty at a Monday court hearing. He was ordered to be held without bond.
  
Three black churches were torched in 10 days. Two were in the city of Opelousas. Another was in a nearby town.
  
Matthews is the son of a St. Landry Parish sheriff's deputy. He was arrested Wednesday on three charges of arson of a religious building. The three additional hate crimes charges - one for each blaze - were added Monday.
  
Authorities at Monday's hearing also outlined a litany of new evidence that prosecutors say ties Matthews to the crimes.

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