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Bonners Ferry man charged with St. Ann’s Catholic Church arson fire

A cross made of steel breaks loose as crews continued to battle the arson blaze at St. Ann's Catholic Church in Bonners Ferry on Thursday, April 21, 2016. (Kathy Plonka / The Spokesman-Review)

A Bonners Ferry man has been arrested on suspicion of setting fire to St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Bonners Ferry, which was completely destroyed in the blaze in April.

Shane Rucker, 33, was arrested Thursday after a federal grand jury indicted him for destruction of religious property and using fire to damage or destroy religious property. He faces a minimum sentence of 10 years and a maximum of 20 years in prison if he is convicted of the charges.

The arson is being prosecuted under the Church Arson Prevention Act, which was passed by Congress in 1996 in response to numerous fires set at black churches in the South/ Nina Culver , SR. More here.

* This story was originally published as a post from the blog "Huckleberries Online." Read all stories from this blog