The 23-year-old who set fire to three predominately Black churches in Opelousas last spring is sentenced to 25 years in prison.
Legal Analyst Tim Meche says Holden Matthews was hit with a substantial sentence that is close to the maximum of what he could have gotten for the crimes.
“I think most legal observers expected him to get under 20 years but then again it was a noteworthy crime that got national attention,” said Meche.
Matthews’ spree took place from late March to early April and targeted the Greater Union, Mt. Pleasant, and St. Mary Baptist Churches.
Matthews, the son of a St. Landry Parish deputy, initially pled not guilty but changed his plea back in February. Meche says pleading out was his best bet to avoid an even longer sentence.
“I think if he would have taken it to trial he probably would have gotten a sentence closer to life so he made the best of a bad situation that he, of course, brought on himself,” said Meche.
Matthews reportedly told authorities that he set the fires in an attempt to raise his profile as a “Black Metal” artist, committing crimes similar to those done by musicians in Scandinavia in the 90s.
Meche says the message from this substantial sentence is clear.
“It is just the wrong time in American history to go and burn down African American churches. The courts are not going to tolerate that and are going to make an example of people who chose to do that,” said Meche.
