Washington Man Sentenced for Hate Crimes and Firearm Offense
for Four Attacks on Jehovah’s Witness Kingdom Halls
A
Mikey Diamond Starrett, also known as Michael Jason Layes,
52, of Olympia, was also ordered to pay restitution in a total amount of
$714,608.70, including: $4,921.73 to the Kingdom Hall of Tumwater; $1,749.20 to
the Kingdom Hall of Yelm; and $707,937.73 to the Watchtower Bible and Tract
Society of New York, Inc.
Specifically, Starett was sentenced on four counts of
violating the Church Arson Prevention Act — one count for each attack — as well
as one count of using a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
“The defendant in this case committed four attacks on
Jehovah’s Witness Kingdom Halls, causing fear and anguish to its members,” said
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil
Rights Division. “The freedom to practice the religion we choose, without
discrimination or violence, is a fundamental civil right in our nation and a
hallmark of our democracy from its very inception. Violence based on religious
prejudice has no place in our society. The Justice Department will continue to
prosecute those who target and harm houses of worship.”
“Starrett’s attacks irrevocably destroyed the sense of
safety and peace that a house of worship is supposed to provide, and caused
severe, permanent harm to the Jehovah’s Witness community in Washington,” said
U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman for the Western District of Washington. “These
were not crimes against buildings, but a series of attacks against a community
and a faith.”
“ATF and our law enforcement partners spent many thousands,
if not tens of thousands, of hours investigating these attacks and ensuring
that the right person was identified,” said Special Agent in Charge Jonathan
Blais of the ATF Seattle Field Division. “His guilty plea is a validation of
the hard work put in by all the law enforcement involved in the investigation,
and this sentence is appropriate for his egregious actions. We are all
committed to defending the right of people to practice their religion, and
investigating when someone acts to deprive them of that right, in this case
through acts of arson and use of a firearm during, and in relation to, a crime
of violence.”
According to court documents and statements made during the
plea and sentencing hearings, Starrett intentionally set fire to the Kingdom
Hall of Tumwater, Washington, on March 19, 2018; intentionally set fire to the
Kingdom Hall of Olympia on March 19, 2018; intentionally used a firearm to
shoot into the Kingdom Hall of Yelm, Washington, on May 15, 2018; and
intentionally set fire to the Kingdom Hall of Olympia on July 3, 2018. The
defendant admitted he committed these attacks because of the religious
character of the Kingdom Halls. The attacks resulted in significant damage to
each of the Kingdom Halls, including the destruction of the Olympia Kingdom
Hall on July 3, 2018.
The ATF Seattle Field Division, FBI Seattle Field Office,
Tumwater Police Department and Olympia Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonas Lerman for the Western
District of Washington and Trial Attorney Matthew Tannenbaum of the Civil
Rights Division’s Criminal Section prosecuted the case.
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