The federal trial for one of three men accused using Molotov cocktails to torch the Islamic Center of Columbia in February 2008 is scheduled to begin in October.
Eric Ian Baker, 33, was granted a continuance in March after waiving his right to a speedy trial. Next month’s trial is slated to begin Oct. 6 in Nashville.
A federal indictment states Baker and two other men — Jonathan Edward Stone and Michael Corey Golden — allegedly spray-painted swastikas and the phrases “White Power” and “We run the wold” (sic) on the exterior of the Columbia Islamic Center, which at the time was located at 1317 S. Main St.
The three men then allegedly broke one of the windows of the building and threw two Molotov cocktails into the building, which was burned to the ground. Authorities arrested the men the following day.
Stone, 20, and Golden, 23, have both pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of destruction of religious property and one count of use of fire to damage religious property, both civil rights charges. The two men will be sentenced in federal court on Nov. 23, according to U.S. District court records.
Baker faces the same charges as Stone and Golden, along with unlawful possession of a destructive device, use of fire and explosives to commit felonies and destruction by fire and explosives of a building used in interstate and foreign commerce.
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