South Carolina man sentenced to 5 years after “maliciously” starting fire in Byron Church

PEACH COUNTY, Ga. — A South Carolina man admitted to “maliciously” starting a fire at a Byron church in 2024 will now serve five years in federal prison.

Luke Andrew Westefeld, 34 years old, of North Augusta, South Carolina, was sentenced on Thursday, July 9, to 60 months in prison and three years of supervised release, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia. Authorities couldn’t say why he drove two hours to set a fire in Peach County.

“Intentionally setting fire to a house of worship is a malicious act that devastates not only a sacred space, but also reverberates throughout the entire community,” said U.S. Attorney William R. “Will” Keyes. “Local, state and federal law enforcement agencies worked together to ensure the defendant is brought to justice for his actions.”

According to court documents and statements in court, on Aug. 20, 2024, Westefeld approached members of the Byron United Methodist Church, who were standing in the church’s parking lot after their choir practice, and asked for water. The women declined and later told officers they were concerned about their safety.

Later that night, Westefeld broke into the church and became upset upon seeing unlit candlesticks on the altar. Westefeld believed the candlesticks should remain lit through the night. He said he noticed that the Bible on the pulpit was opened to Ezekiel 24:21, which spoke of the desecration of the sanctuary due to sin. 

Say to the people of Israel, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am about to desecrate my sanctuary—the stronghold in which you take pride, the delight of your eyes, the object of your affection. The sons and daughters you left behind will fall by the sword.

Westefeld took it as a sign for him to burn the Church. Westefeld lit the candlesticks and burned the American and Methodist flags in the sanctuary.

Westefeld then went to the Church office next to the sanctuary and found cash and checks. He said his “anger level reached a 10” because he believed the money should be deposited in a bank. He took the cash for himself. 

Westefeld then saw food in the office pantry and became even more enraged, believing it should be given to the poor. Westefeld said that this is why he decided to set fire to the church’s office.

Westefeld stole a plastic gas can from a nearby home, planning to siphon gasoline out of the Church’s van to use as an accelerant. The van was parked and locked behind the Church. Westefeld was unable to retrieve the gasoline, so he stuffed his white shirt in the gas cap of the van and set it on fire.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the Georgia Fire Marshals, and the Byron Police Department investigated the case, along with assistance from the Centerville Police Department and the GBI.