Burlington Man Sentenced on Federal Arson and Hate Crime Charges
Davenport, IA- On September 30, 2008, Kevin Michael Ravelin, 30, of Burlington, Iowa, appeared before United States District Judge John A. Jarvey and was sentenced on numerous charges related to the April 29, 2007 fires at the First United Methodist Church and the First Presbyterian Church in Burlington, Iowa, announced United States Attorney Matthew G. Whitaker. Specifically, Ravelin was sentenced on the following charges:
Count 1, Arson, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 844(i) and 2, 60 months imprisonment;
Count 2, Attempted Arson, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 844(i) and 2, 60 months imprisonment;
Count 3, Obstruction of the Free Exercise of Religion in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 247(a)(1), 247(d)(3), and 2, 60 months imprisonment;
Count 4, Obstruction of the Free Exercise of Religion, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 247(a)(1), 247(d)(3), and 2, 60 months imprisonment;
Count 5, Use of Fire to Commit Federal Felonies, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 844(h)(1) and 2, 120 months imprisonment; and,
Count 6, Use of Fire to Commit Federal Felonies, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 844(h)(1) and 2, 240 months imprisonment.
Judge Jarvey ordered that the sentences on Counts 1 through 4 would be concurrent, the sentence on Count 5 would run consecutive to the sentences on Counts 1 through 4, and the sentence on Count 6 would run consecutive to the sentences on Counts 1 through 5, for a total sentence of 420 months imprisonment (35 years). Ravelin was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $8, 533, 757.64 and pay an assessment of $600 to the Crime Victim’s Fund. He will serve 3 years supervised release following his release from incarceration.
In the early morning hours of April 29, 2007, Kevin Ravelin set fire to the historic First United Methodist Church in Burlington, Iowa. The structure was completely destroyed, taking with it many important artifacts and documents related to the founding and early settlement of Burlington. Ravelin also attempted to set fire to the First Presbyterian Church, located immediately across the street. This effort, fortunately, was mostly unsuccessful, causing comparatively minor damage. Ravelin performed these senseless acts because of long-held anti-Christian sentiments. It was this anti-Christian animus that formed the basis for the charges in both Counts 3 and 4, Obstruction of the Free Exercise of Religion, as Ravelin damaged those churches because of their religious character.
On May 8, 2008, Ravelin had appeared before United States District Judge John A. Jarvey and entered guilty pleas to the above charges.
This investigation was conducted by the Burlington, Iowa, Police Department, the Burlington Fire Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, including its National Response Team, the Des Moines County Sheriff’s Office, the Iowa State Fire Marshal’s Office and the Iowa Department of Public Safety, Division of Criminal Investigation Crime Lab, with assistance provided by numerous other law enforcement agencies.