Nashville, Tennessee — A Tennessee man with ties to white supremacist groups pleaded guilty Monday to setting a 2019 fire that destroyed part of a historic civil rights training center, according to federal court documents.
Regan Prater admitted to burning an office at the Highlander Research and Education Center in New Market, a site known for training prominent Civil Rights Movement figures, including Rosa Parks and John Lewis. The fire caused more than $1.2 million in damage and destroyed decades of irreplaceable historical documents.
Prosecutors said Prater was linked to the arson through online group chats and messages in which a user identified as “Rooster” described using a “sparkler bomb and some Napalm” to start the fire. A white supremacist symbol known as a “triple cross” was also found spray-painted near the scene.
In addition to the arson charge, Prater pleaded guilty to attempting to aid Hezbollah by offering personal data tied to individuals allegedly connected to Israel. The charge was included in a criminal information filed earlier this year, replacing a prior indictment.
Prater faces a sentence of up to 20 years in prison under the plea agreement, with sentencing scheduled for Sept. 9 in Knoxville. He had previously received a five-year sentence for a separate 2019 arson case in East Tennessee.
No injuries were reported in the Highlander fire.
Sources:
Discover more from News Facts Network
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
