Holden Matthews, the white son of a sheriff’s deputy, pleaded guilty to federal charges over setting three historically black churches on fire in Louisiana during a 10-day period last March and April. The religious institutions were destroyed, NPR reports. “His atrocious actions inflicted severe pain and grief upon these congregations,” said FBI agent Bryan Vorndran. Matthews, 22, said he committed the crimes in an attempt to break into the “black metal” music scene. He was attempting to raise his profile in that scene by copying church arson attacks in Norway in the 1990s. “Holden’s actions were motivated by the fact that these were religious properties and in no way were motivated by the racial makeup of the congregations,” said his lawyer, Dustin Talbot.
The 22-year-old pleaded guilty to three counts of “intentional damage to religious property,” for destroying the St. Mary Baptist Church in Port Barre, La., the Greater Union Baptist Church in Opelousas, La., and the Mount Pleasant Baptist Church in Opelousas. His defense lawyer said prosecutors agreed they will drop two remaining counts of “using fire to a commit a felony” as part of a plea agreement. Matthews is scheduled to be sentenced on May 22. All the churches were built in rural areas decades ago and had served generations of predominantly black families through weddings, funerals and religious services.