Eric Duane Ridenour, a 58-year-old resident of Douglas, Arizona, has been sentenced to over 36 years in prison following his conviction for arson and hate crimes. United States District Judge Scott H. Rash handed down the 438-month sentence after Ridenour was found guilty of setting fire to two churches in Douglas on May 22, 2023.

The churches targeted were Saint Stephen’s Episcopal Church and First Presbyterian Church, both situated in the historic Church Square district of Douglas. This area is noted for having four different denominational churches at one intersection. Testimonies during the trial revealed that Ridenour's actions were driven by his opposition to women and LGBTQ individuals serving in church leadership roles. He was apprehended on May 23, 2023.

"This is a case about two separate arsons and the motivations behind each," stated United States Attorney Gary Restaino. "Defendant burned a church because he disagreed with its position that women and LGBTQ individuals may serve as ministers, and then he burned a second church, in the same historic square, for the same reason."

Brendan Iber from ATF Phoenix highlighted the collaborative efforts involved in bringing Ridenour to justice: "The sentencing of Ridenour is a testament to the collaborative work between all agencies involved in this investigation."

Jose A. Perez of FBI Phoenix commented on the impact of Ridenour's actions: "There is no way to undo the damage Mr. Ridenour caused with his hateful and violent behavior, but we hope this sentence provides some measure of comfort."

This case aligns with broader efforts by U.S. Attorney Restaino's office to address hate crimes through initiatives like the Civil Rights unit and participation in Attorney General Merrick Garland's United Against Hate initiative. The Office has engaged with community leaders through various events aimed at preventing unlawful acts of hate.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and Douglas Police Department led the investigation into this case. Prosecution was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Austin Fenwick, Ben Goldberg, and Adam Rossi from the District of Arizona.