A man was sentenced Tuesday to 36 years in prison for burning down two churches in Douglas in the summer of 2023.
Eric Duane Ridenour, 58, was convicted of six arson and hate-crime counts stemming from the arson, which he said stemmed from his resentment of inclusive policies towards homosexuals and women in the two churches — St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church and First Presbyterian Church.
The churches were located on Church Square, a historic district in the border town of Douglas, approximately two hours southeast of Tucson.
Ridenour represented himself at trial and spent much of his time in front of jurors describing homosexuality as “a sin” and “an abomination.” He also complained that women and homosexuals weren’t supposed to “teach” in church. St. Stephen’s has an openly gay pastor and a woman is the pastor of First Presbyterian.
“This is a case about two separate arsons and the motivations behind each,” said 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. Destruction of religious institutions is abhorrent to our Constitution. I add my voice to the prayers for healing in the Douglas community.”
