Sentencing hearing Wednesday for man in Austin synagogue arson case

The man who pled guilty in the 2021 arson of an Austin synagogue will face a sentencing hearing Wednesday.

Franklin Barrett Sechriest pleaded guilty in April to arson and hate crime damage to a religious property.

In October 2021, arson investigators responded to a fire that started on the ground outside of Congregation Beth Israel in central Austin.

According to the government’s sentencing memorandum filed on Nov. 20, normal sentencing guidelines call for a prison term of 60-63 months or 5 years.

However, prosecutors asked Judge David Ezra to sentence Sechriest to 120 months or 10 years in prison due to the “tremendous damage” they say Sechriest did and what they call “his deep-seated hatred of persons of the Jewish faith.”

Read more: KXAN