NEW CANEY, Texas (KTRK) -- In court on Wednesday, a federal agent said 28-year-old Austin Tanton was paid to set a Buddhist temple on fire.

Tanton and 31-year-old Kayla Thompson were arrested Friday in Montgomery County, accused of being involved with a fire in New Caney in November 2023.

Tanton is accused of starting the fire at the Huyen Trang meditation center nearly two years ago. On Wednesday, he and Thompson appeared before a judge in jumpsuits and handcuffs.

No cameras are allowed in federal court, but ABC13 was there as FBI Special Agent Nicholas Regini testified about the case.

It was a tip that led agents to Tanton and Thompson, Regini said. The FBI obtained a search warrant, according to the agent, for both their Facebook pages and their cell phone locations.

Regini reveal

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