A homeless man accused of an arson attack on a historic New York City church admitted to burning the religious site, and prosecutors said he kept disturbing lists of targets of violence with categories such as "kill them" and "rape him" as he mapped out more fire attacks.John Jones, 24, was arrested on Wednesday and admitted to law enforcement that he set fire to the South Bushwick Reformed Church, sparking a three-alarm fire that torched the 173-year-old church on June 19, according to a detention memo filed by federal prosecutors, the New York Post reported."The defendant admitted to committing the church arson for which he has been charged in this case," the memo reads."Furthermore, the defendant stated that he had recently attempted to burn down a second church in Brooklyn, New York."Prosecutors also said in the memo that they discovered Jones' notebook that included a chart with several handwritten categories for violent targets, including "murder them," "kill them," "stab them," "make them pay" and "rape him."HISTORIC NYC CHURCH ENGULFED IN 5-ALARM BLAZE; 6 FIREFIGHTERS INJURED BATTLING STUBBORN FLAMESJohn Jones was federally charged with arson in connection with the South Bushwick Reformed Church fire.
(FDNY:US District Court, Eastern District of New York)The categories, which are featured as part of a chart, include tally marks and repeated misspellings of the word "church," prosecutors said.Jones was charged with arson in connection with the South Bushwick Reformed Church fire.He faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison if convicted.Prosecutors said that they wish to hold Jones without bail.
He is expected to be arraigned on Friday."This defendant placed countless Brooklyn residents at risk when he recklessly set fire to the South Bushwick Reformed Church in broad daylight," NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said in a statement."New Yorkers deserve to practice their faith freely and without fear, and the destruction of this sacred New York City landm...