A 44 year old Houlton, Maine man has been charged in federal court with a post Christmas fire at a predominantly Black church in the city. Dushko Vulchev was charged with four counts of damage to religious property. He has already made his initial appearance in Springfield Federal Court. The Martin Luther King, Jr Community Presbyterian Church was set ablaze December 28th of last year. Federal Prosecutors allege he is responsible for the fire and for a series of tire slashings on church property as well. In addition to the December 28th fire, prosecutors say he is also responsible for two additional fires at the same facility. Prosecutors say they went through the defendants electronic devices and found that he hated those who were black. The charge of damage to religious property involving fire provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of use of fire to commit a federal felony provides for a sentence of at least 10 years in prison, in addition to any sentence received for the other charged crimes. No court preceding information has been made available at this time.
(Photo Credit: John Baibak/WHYN News)