Arsonist who torched Church meetinghouses ordered to pay $1.13 million

[Scott Lloyd]

I checked just now, and I don’t think Smac has this yet. Could I have beaten his time?
 

https://www.deseret.com/2022/9/26/23365809/1-13-million-arson-fires-3-latter-day-saint-lds-mormon-meetinghouses

Sounds harsh, but my hunch is the guy ends up not paying a penny. Hence, as a practical matter, he skated free out of this one. 

Edited September 26, 2022 by Scott Lloyd

[LoudmouthMormon]

Quote

Judge John Walton has ordered Benjamin James Johnson, 37, to pay restitution in the amount of $1,131,586.90
...
Walton also ordered Johnson to make his best efforts to obtain a GED or high school diploma within 18 months.
...
Johnson led officers on a 40-mile chase onto I-15 and into Zion National Park. The chase ended when the vehicle crashed at the Canyon Junction bridge and started a small fire. Police arrested Johnson, who “kept calling himself Joshua and told officers he was a type of deity,”

This guy sounds like a real piece of work.  

 

Linked in the original news item, also an interesting read: https://www.deseret.com/2022/9/12/23341331/lds-mormon-church-increased-vandalism-orem-utah-temple

Edited September 26, 2022 by LoudmouthMormon

[The Nehor]

Arsonist crashes car and starts a small fire. At least he has a running theme.

I am not sure a mentally ill guy claiming he is a deity is “skating” on his punishment by not being able to pay a fine. Unless he is faking the whole thing (lack of education suggests not) he is already likely living a hellish life.

[smac97]

1 hour ago, Scott Lloyd said:

I checked just now, and I don’t think Smac has this yet. Could I have beaten his time?

https://www.deseret.com/2022/9/26/23365809/1-13-million-arson-fires-3-latter-day-saint-lds-mormon-meetinghouses

Sounds harsh, but my hunch is the guy ends up not paying a penny. Hence, as a practical matter, he skated free out of this one. 

He did spend 320 days in jail.  So there's that.

However, he is 37 and does not have a high school diploma or a GED.  He likely has little to no assets, and has a limited earning capacity.  Meanwhile, the judgment will last 8 years and can then be renewed for another 8.  Given the $1.13 million judgment, over the 16 years the judgment could continue (and assuming no post-judgment interest), he would need to make restitution in the neighborhood of $70,625 per year, or $5,885 per month for 192 months.  The chances of him doing this, or of the Church being able to garnish his wages in these amounts, seems . . . slim.

He also appears to have some mental health issues.

Thanks,

-Smac

[CV75]

2 hours ago, Scott Lloyd said:

I checked just now, and I don’t think Smac has this yet. Could I have beaten his time?
 

https://www.deseret.com/2022/9/26/23365809/1-13-million-arson-fires-3-latter-day-saint-lds-mormon-meetinghouses

Sounds harsh, but my hunch is the guy ends up not paying a penny. Hence, as a practical matter, he skated free out of this one. 

They should garnish his tithing.

[Scott Lloyd]

1 hour ago, The Nehor said:

Arsonist crashes car and starts a small fire. At least he has a running theme.

I am not sure a mentally ill guy claiming he is a deity is “skating” on his punishment by not being able to pay a fine. Unless he is faking the whole thing (lack of education suggests not) he is already likely living a hellish life.

Hmm. Seems like play acting at being a deity is what brings him joy in life. Could be that his delusions are their own reward. 🤷‍♂️ 

[The Nehor]

4 minutes ago, Scott Lloyd said:

Hmm. Seems like play acting at being a deity is what brings him joy in life. Could be that his delusions are their own reward. 🤷‍♂️ 

It is very rare that mental illness exists without pain being involved. Maybe he got lucky though.

[2BizE]

3 hours ago, CV75 said:

They should garnish his tithing.

Best quote of the day.

[Scott Lloyd]

5 hours ago, LoudmouthMormon said:

This guy sounds like a real piece of work.  

 

Linked in the original news item, also an interesting read: https://www.deseret.com/2022/9/12/23341331/lds-mormon-church-increased-vandalism-orem-utah-temple

From the link:

“In recent years there has been an unfortunate worldwide increase of violence, vandalism and desecration of religious sites and buildings, including shootings, arson, graffiti, damage to facilities, and more,” church spokesman Doug Andersen said. “This has also affected chapels and temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.”

Aside from the incident at the temple construction site in Orem — which, despite initial skepticism from some on this board, has been determined by the ATF bureau to be arson — are there other cases of arson affecting temples? Or was Doug Andersen referencing the broad category of “chapels and temples,” hence the plural on the word temples?

[Scott Lloyd]

7 hours ago, The Nehor said:

It is very rare that mental illness exists without pain being involved. Maybe he got lucky though.

Nice that he could find a hobby. 

[The Nehor]

18 hours ago, Scott Lloyd said:

Nice that he could find a hobby. 

Another tragic case where you start out birdwatching and it turns into arson.