A Washington man was sentenced today to 11 years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for federal civil rights and firearms offenses related to four attacks that targeted Jehovah’s Witness Kingdom Halls in western Washington.
Mikey Diamond Starrett, 52, of Olympia, was ordered to pay restitution totaling $714,608.70, which includes $4,921.73 to the Kingdom Hall of Tumwater, $1,749.20 to the Kingdom Hall of Yelm, and $707,937.73 to the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc.
Starrett faced charges for four counts of violating the Church Arson Prevention Act—one count for each attack—and one count of using a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
“The defendant in this case committed four attacks on Jehovah’s Witness Kingdom Halls, causing fear and anguish to its members,” stated Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. She emphasized that the freedom to practice religion without discrimination or violence is a fundamental civil right.
U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman for the Western District of Washington remarked, “Starrett’s attacks irrevocably destroyed the sense of safety and peace that a house of worship is supposed to provide, and caused severe, permanent harm to the Jehovah’s Witness community in Washington.”
Starrett admitted to intentionally setting fire to the Kingdom Hall of Tumwater on March 19, 2018, and the Kingdom Hall of Olympia on the same day. He also shot into the Kingdom Hall of Yelm on May 15, 2018, and set fire to the Kingdom Hall of Olympia again on July 3, 2018. Each attack resulted in significant damage, culminating in the destruction of the Olympia Kingdom Hall.
The investigation involved the ATF Seattle Field Division, FBI Seattle Field Office, Tumwater Police Department, and Olympia Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonas Lerman for the Western District of Washington and Trial Attorney Matthew Tannenbaum of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section.
