NORTH PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — A man will spend more than six years in federal prison for intentionally igniting multiple fires at a North Providence church with a predominantly Black congregation last year.

Kevin Colantonio, 36, was sentenced Thursday to 78 months, followed by three years of supervised release. He previously pleaded guilty to to malicious damage by means of fire, obstruction of free exercise of religious beliefs, and two counts of assault on a federal officer.

In federal court, Colantonio admitted that on Feb. 11, 2024, he used gasoline and a lighter to set five fires outside Shiloh Gospel Temple Ministries.

The next day, he texted a family member saying that no one cared about the arson and called the church "Atheist God mockers."

During a search, police discovered

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