United States of America v. Luke Andrew Westefeld

Macon, Georgia, criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with one count of malicious use of fire.

Reported by Kent Morlan

Luke Andrew Westefeld, 35, of North Augusta, South Carolina, approached a few Byron United Methodist Church (now Byron Heritage Church) members who were standing in the church’s parking lot on West Heritage Boulevard in Byron after their choir practice on Aug. 20, 2024. Westefeld asked for water, which the women declined, telling officers they were concerned about their safety.

Later that night, Westefeld broke into the church and became upset when he saw unlit candlesticks on the altar. Westefeld believed the candlesticks should remain lit through the night. He said he noticed that the Bible on the pulpit was opened to Ezekiel 24:21, which spoke of the desecration of the sanctuary due to sin. Westefeld took it as a sign for him to burn the Church. Westefeld lit the candlesticks and burned the American and Methodist flags in the sanctuary.

Westefeld then went to the Church office next to the sanctuary and found cash and checks. Westefeld said his “anger level reached a 10” because he believed the money should be deposited in a bank. Westefeld took the cash for himself. He then saw food in the office pantry and became even more enraged, believing it should be given to the poor. For these reasons, Westefeld set the Church’s office on fire.

Westefeld then stole a plastic gas can from a nearby home, planning to siphon gasoline out of the Church’s van to use as an accelerant. The van was parked and locked behind the Church. Westefeld was unable to retrieve the gasoline, so he stuffed his white shirt in the gas cap of the van and set it 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.

The Defendant was found guilty and was sentenced to 60 months imprisonment, 3 years supervised release, $100 mandatory assessment fee.