Two Men Burned Down Catholic Church In Revenge Plot Ahead Of Holy Week, DOJ Announces

The Department of Justice announced Thursday that it charged two men in Columbia, Louisiana, with arson after they allegedly burned down a Catholic church ahead of Holy Week.

Authorities found that Anthony Dillon Jr., 19, and James Dale Smith IV, 21, broke into a church March 27 and set it ablaze, according to an official press release. Dillon Jr. and Smith were allegedly stealing power from the St. John’s Chapel for their home. After being confronted by church officials, and a separate man whom the two sold a broken television to, the men broke into the church, according to authorities.

🚨BREAKING NEWS: Two men now face federal charges – accused of burning down the only Catholic church in Caldwell Parish. The #FBI New Orleans is assisting @ATFNewOrleans, @LAFIREMARSHAL, and @CaldwellParishSO with the investigation.

Details, including the alleged motive are… pic.twitter.com/yLkBaXcfnM

— FBI New Orleans (@FBINewOrleans) April 2, 2026

Dillon Jr. and Smith allegedly broke a church window with a baseball bat and ransacked the building. The DOJ report also alleges that they stole at least three televisions and a sound system before setting the church on fire.

If found guilty, the two men face a minimum of five years in federal prison and a maximum charge of 20 years with a fine of $250,000. (RELATED: City Of Houston Roasted Online After Referring To Good Friday As ‘Spring Holiday Weekend’)

St. John’s Chapel was the only Catholic Church in the Caldwell Parish, according to the Diocese of Alexandria.

The Diocese of Alexandria has since set up a fund to rebuild the church. Masses will be held at a separate location “until further notice,” according to their website.

“Worshiping where we choose is a fundamental liberty woven into the founding fabric of this Nation, and these two men are alleged to have destroyed the sole church in Caldwell Parish where its Catholic residents could meet and worship right before the holiest week in the church calendar,” the United States Attorney for the Western District of Louisiana Zachary A. Keller said. “Our Office looks forward to seeking and securing justice for the residents of Caldwell Parish here and hope that this case shows our rural communities that we remain present and vigilant in serving and protecting them.” (RELATED: King Charles Skips Easter Message After Wishing Muslims A Happy Ramadan)

The Daily Caller reached out the the Diocese of Alexandria for comment but did not receive a response prior to publication.