CORVALLIS, Ore. - A 24-year-old Oregon man has been arraigned on hate crime charges for allegedly setting fire to a Corvallis mosque last November. Cody Seth Crawford was taken into custody without incident Wednesday night.
No one was injured in the blaze, which damaged an office at the Salman Alfarisi Islamic Center. FBI Special Agent in Charge Greg Fowler says the man charged in the case does not reflect the values of the people of Corvallis.
"This community and those sworn to protect them will not tolerate such acts, or tire in their efforts to keep us safe from those who would further their own goals through violence and intimidation," Fowler said.
If convicted, Crawford would face at least 10 years in prison. The arson happened just days after federal agents arrested a former Corvallis resident for allegedly plotting to set off a bomb in Portland's Pioneer Courthouse Square.
Mohamed Osman Mohamud occasionally worshipped at the Corvallis mosque, but leaders there denounced his alleged crimes.
Copyright 2011 Northwest News Network
