Mississippi Man Indicted on State Arson Charge for Jackson Synagogue Blaze
Mississippi prosecutors indicted Stephen Spencer Pittman, a 19-year-old from Madison, on first-degree arson of a place of worship with a hate-crime enhancement for the Jan. 10, 2026 fire at Beth Israel Congregation in Jackson. Pittman, who is hospitalized after the attack, allegedly confessed and used an antisemitic slur; the offense carries 5–30 years, with the hate-crime enhancement potentially doubling the sentence to up to 60 years. He has also faced federal charges and is slated for preliminary hearings after a grand jury returned an indictment.