Stephen Spencer Pittman, a 19-year-old from Madison, Mississippi, has been indicted on charges related to the arson of the Beth Israel Congregation and the Goldring/Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life. The indictment was announced by Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division Harmeet K. Dhillon, United States Attorney J.E. Baxter Kruger for the Southern District of Mississippi, and Special Agent in Charge Robert A. Eikhoff of the FBI Jackson Field Office.
Court documents allege that Pittman used gasoline to set fire to the synagogue in the early morning hours of January 10, 2026. The incident caused significant damage to a large part of the building and left it unusable for an unknown period.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon stated: “The Department of Justice will not tolerate attacks on houses of worship. This superseding indictment shows that we will investigate and we will prosecute such vicious attacks that strike at the core of our country’s long tradition of religious liberty.”
United States Attorney J.E. Baxter Kruger said: “I applaud our law enforcement partners for their swift response to this heinous act of hate-fueled violence. We Americans should not fear for our safety because of our faith. The superseding indictment demonstrates our commitment to that cause.”
Beth Israel Congregation was established in 1860 and has been at its current location since 1967. The congregation's temple on Old Canton Road was previously bombed by the Ku Klux Klan on September 18, 1967. The Goldring/Woldenberg Institute serves Jewish communities across 13 states and supports religious education programs at numerous congregations.
Pittman faces three federal charges: arson affecting interstate commerce under Title 18 U.S.C., Section 844(i); damaging religious property under Title 18 U.S.C., Section 247; and using fire during a federal felony under Title 18 U.S.C., Section 844(h).
The investigation is being conducted by multiple agencies including the FBI, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Jackson Police Department, and Jackson Fire Department.
Prosecution is led by Assistant United States Attorneys Matt Allen and Jonathan Buckner as well as Civil Rights Division Trial Attorney Taylor Payne.
It is noted that an indictment is only an allegation; all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
