Faces up to 20 Years for Allegedly Setting Fire at Chabad Center
United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announced that a criminal complaint and arrest warrant have been issued for Blake Richard Hoover, 31, of Punta Gorda, charging him with arson in connection with a fire at the Chabad Jewish Center.
If convicted, Hoover faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.
According to the complaint, on or about September 19, 2025, Hoover allegedly set an intentional fire at the Chabad Jewish Center, located at 424 W. Hendry Street. The center is a community synagogue and Hebrew school.
The fire department was alerted after the center’s fire alarm was activated at approximately 10:48 p.m. on September 19, 2025. Following the extinguishing of the fire, an investigation determined that the fire was an act of arson. Investigators also noted that three areas were spray-painted with the letter “J,” which appeared to have been recently applied.
On September 22, 2025, the Punta Gorda Police Department and Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office received information leading to the identification of Hoover as a suspect. A person provided information that Hoover had previously expressed an intent to burn down the Chabad Jewish Center and had indicated a hatred toward Jewish people.
The source further stated that Hoover had left his residence on the evening of September 19, 2025, and returned later with a spray paint can. A gas can reportedly went missing before Hoover left and was returned empty that evening. When the person confronted Hoover about what he had spray-painted, Hoover allegedly replied, “the letter ‘J.'”
A license plate reader recorded Hoover’s motor vehicle in the area of the Chabad Jewish Center at approximately 10:09 p.m., prior to the fire alarm activation. Law enforcement subsequently executed a search warrant at Hoover’s residence, recovering a spray paint can and a gas can.
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