Joseph Michael Schreiber, 32, was arrested on arson and hate crime charges on Wednesday, three days after police say he began the blaze that badly damaged the Islamic Center of Fort Pierce on one of the holiest Muslim holidays, as well as the 15th anniversary of the September 11 attacks.
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The judge denied bail to Joseph Michael Schreiber, 32, of Port St. Lucie.
Schreiber also “made remarks indicative of prejudicial rhetoric associated to Islamic extremists”.
Schreiber admitted to being involved in the fire, but declined to say what type of accelerant was used, according to the affidavit.
A Facebook page apparently belonging to the suspect, established under his name with photos resembling his booking photo, include a message posted on July 12 that said “ALL ISLAM IS RADICAL, and should be considered TERRORIST AND CRIMANALS” written in capital letters with several misspellings.
The man suspected of setting fire to the Florida mosque where Orlando nightclub shooter Omar Mateen worshipped had a social media history of anti-Islamic sentiments, according to the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office.
Schreiber, who is “known to law enforcement” for what records indicate are multiple thefts, is charged with arson, a first degree felony, because of the penalty enhancement of a hate crime, Thompson told reporters during a news conference on Wednesday evening.
Schreiber was previously sentenced twice to state prison for theft, according to records from the Florida Department of Corrections. In a first appearance before a judge Thursday, the court said “there is no condition of release that could protect the community” and there are serious concerns that he’s a flight risk. The public defender’s office had no immediate comment on Schreiber’s case.
“People have good hearts”, he said.
Video captured by neighbors of the mosque show flames shooting up from the back of the mosque before firefighters were able to put the fire out. The videos showed a man on a motorcycle around the same time as the fire.
“A search warrant was obtained and a search of Schreiber’s house was conducted that revealed Schreiber owns a motorcycle consistent with the surveillance video footage”, Thompson said.
Yet most of Schreiber’s posts were links to content created by conservative and pro-Israel groups and websites.
No one was inside the building at the time, but the blaze forced the congregation to hold prayer services elsewhere.
If convicted, Schreiber faces a minimum 30-year prison sentence.
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The FBI and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives joined the investigation into the fire.
