MACON, Ga. () – A resident of North Augusta has been sentenced to serve time in a federal prison after admitting to igniting a blaze at a church located in Byron, Ga.
Luke Andrew Westefeld, aged 35, received a sentence of 60 months behind bars with an additional three-year period of supervised release. U.S. District Judge Marc Treadwell passed this judgment on July 9.
“Arson against a place of worship devastates a community deeply,” commented U.S. Attorney William R. “Will” Keyes. “We are committed to partnering with local, state, and federal law enforcement to ensure that those responsible face justice for such serious offenses.”
Court records reveal that Westefeld was responsible for the fire at Byron United Methodist Church, now known as Byron Heritage Church, on August 20, 2024.
The U.S. Department of Justice reported that Westefeld had broken into the church and, upon becoming displeased with several aspects, decided to set the building on fire.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Georgia Fire Marshals, and the Byron Police Department investigated the case, along with assistance from the Centerville Police Department and the GBI.