Stephen Spencer Pittman pleaded not guilty Tuesday to federal arson charges related to a fire that damaged Beth Israel Congregation in Jackson, Mississippi. The 19-year-old defendant appeared in court with bandaged burn wounds on his hands and ankles. Magistrate Judge LaKeysha Greer Isaac denied bond, ordering him held in federal custody pending trial. The fire occurred January 10, shortly after 3 a.m., with no injuries reported.
The synagogue was bombed by the Ku Klux Klan in 1967 for the congregation’s role in the Civil Rights Movement, making the recent fire significant to the community. Pittman faces federal charges carrying 5 to 20 years in prison and state charges that could result in 5 to 30 years, or up to 60 years if convicted under a hate-crime enhancement.
Magistrate Judge LaKeysha Greer Isaac said Pittman posed a serious risk of obstructing justice or threatening, injuring, or intimidating witnesses, including members of the Beth Israel Congregation and his own parents.
Family’s Concerns
FBI Special Agent Ariel Williams testified that Pittman’s mother told authorities that family pets were afraid of her son and that she considered locking her bedroom door at night due to concerns about his behavior.
Williams also testified that Pittman’s father reported an incident where Pittman “bowed up” in his father’s face after his father attempted to correct him for saying something offensive to Pittman’s mother.
Witnesses and Confession
Multiple witnesses, including Pittman’s parents, reported hearing Pittman make antisemitic comments. Members of Pittman’s gym told authorities that Pittman said he wanted to burn a synagogue, according to Williams.
According to an FBI affidavit, Pittman confessed to lighting a fire inside the building and referred to it as “the synagogue of Satan.”
The Charges
Pittman is charged federally with maliciously damaging or destroying a building by means of fire or an explosive. He has also been indicted on state charges of willfully and maliciously setting fire to a synagogue, with a sentencing enhancement for a hate crime.
Mike Scott, Pittman’s public defender, argued that Pittman did not pose a danger to the community. Scott also argued that Pittman suffered third-degree burns and that incarceration could pose a health risk to him.
The federal charge carries 5 to 20 years in prison. The state charge carries 5 to 30 years, with the possibility of up to 60 years if Pittman is convicted under the hate-crime enhancement.
Judge Isaac set Pittman’s trial for February 23, 2026.